Piloting climate change adaptation in water resources management in Nauru
- Nauru
- Pacific
ENTRY DATE: 09.03.2012 | LAST UPDATE: 09.03.2012
SCALE:
- Countrywide
TARGET AREA:
- Rural
BEST PRACTICE IN:
- Project Implementation
KEY SECTOR:
- Water Resources Management
FUNDING AMOUNT:
- USD 500,001 - USD 1,000,000
Description of Intervention
The island of Nauru has little or no source of surface freshwater and is susceptible to extreme climate events such as prolonged droughts , which can cause severe damage to socio-economic activities, infrastructure, agriculture and biodiversity. The only permanent freshwater resource is groundwater in the form of the "lens" of often slightly brackish freshwater, hydrostatically "floating" on higher-density saltwater beneath it. The height of the freshwater lens above sea level and the level of salinity vary in relation to the elevation, geology, texture and shape of the island, and with the amount of water use and rainfall.
Currently Nauru’s population is reliant on water supplied either from a desalination plant run by the Nauru Phosphate Corporation (1150 tonnes/day) or from local wells. There is little use made of roof rainwater catchments on the island. Existing long-term potential threats to the quality of the groundwater resource include contamination by cadmium, rubbish dump leachate, sewage and household waste water e.g. bathroom, kitchen and laundry. Currently, Nauru depends on two main sources of water: rainfall and desalination or reverse osmosis. In a scenario where there is inadequate rainfall or a prolonged drought in Nauru, it is envisaged that the water situation would be significantly affected particularly if the desalination plants are not in operation as is the case at present.
In the past, Nauru was able to charter ships to import water from Republic of Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and the State of Kosrae in FSM. This is no longer an option now due to lack of financial resources. Thus, the best option is to look for alternative water sources such as ground water. Several assessments have been undertaken on ground water resources but further work is needed to ascertain the extent and the potential of the underground water resource. There is relatively limited detailed information on climate change in Nauru, and like a number of its small Pacific Island neighbours Nauru reacts to situations such as water shortages when they occur. As a small island state (SIS), Nauru has limited resilience to climatic change, and therefore the impacts tend to be more severe due to the lack of this natural ability to diversify.
Problems to be Addressed
• Seawater intrusion due to over-pumping;
• Contamination by leaks from seawater sewerage systems;
• Contamination by sewage and other wastewater;
• Leachate from garbage and waste dumps; and
• Risk of hydrocarbon contamination from fuel depots in Aiwo district.
Aims
To enhance the capacity of Nauru to adapt to climate change, including variability, in selected key development sectors
Objectives
• To increase the resilience of the water resources management sector and to enhance adaptive capacity of villages/communities and socio-economic activities to climate change and sea level rise;
• To incorporate climate risks in the water sector in relevant plans and programmes of the Government of Nauru;
• To develop practical guidelines for the design and demonstration of a hybrid water supply system to reduce vulnerability to drought events;
• To implement a hybrid water supply system (with co-financing);
• To test pollution-monitoring boreholes;
• To drill and test pumping boreholes;
• To test the water quality of groundwater;
• Groundwater monitoring programme for recharge and sustainable yield;
• Trial excavation of trenches to water table under top side; and
• Re-estimation of ground water recharge and sustainable yield.
How it fits into the EbA concept
Extension initiatives that promote water conservation and moderate usage and which raise awareness of the importance of water resource management, also help to maintain long-term water supplies. The vulnerability and adaptation assessment undertaken as part of the initial national communication process suggests that the best adaptation strategy in Nauru should emphasise adaptation measures, which would help prepare Nauru for global climate change and sea level rise. This includes the incorporation programmes on integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and coastal protection, coastal forest protection and reforestation.