A major K8.35 million water rehabilitation project, was launched in Ward 1 of the Moresby North-West Electorate to improve access to clean, safe and reliable drinking water for thousands of residents across several coastal communities.
Launched yesterday in Elevala village, Port Moresby, NCD, the project will rehabilitate, upgrade and expand the existing water supply network, benefiting communities in Hanuabada, Elevala, Gabi, Mirigini (Badihagwa), Tatana-Araira, Baruni, Koukou and Sasiva.
In Elevala Village, Motu-Koita East, the project is expected to address years of inadequate and unreliable water infrastructure, with about five villages in the area set to benefit from an improved water supply system.
The project is being delivered through a counter-funding partnership involving the National Government, National Capital District Commission (NCDC), Motu-Koita Assembly, Moresby North-West District Office.
An upfront payment of K2.5 million has been made to the contractor, Monier PNG Limited, allowing construction work to begin.
The project was initiated by the Member for Moresby North-West, Lohia Boie Samuel back in 2021, when he won the seat in the By-election.
The project follows an assessment conducted in 2021, which identified ageing infrastructure, inadequate water access, water rationing, significant water losses and a lack of proper metering as some of the major challenges affecting communities in the area.
"Under the rehabilitation program, ageing distribution pipelines will be replaced and upgraded, while the existing water network will be expanded to improve supply capacity and reliability," he said.
"Existing water tanks and pump stations will also be refurbished to strengthen the system and enable it to meet the needs of a growing population.
"A key objective of the project is to reduce the water rationing experienced by communities and work towards providing households with a continuous 24-hour, seven-day water supply.
The project will also address water losses through the rehabilitation of ageing infrastructure and the introduction of proper water metering," said Boie Samuel.
This means that communities currently classified as unbilled consumers will be transitioned to a metered system, enabling accurate billing, improved revenue collection and greater accountability for water supplied.
The design also includes improvements to water delivery for communities located on higher ground, where inadequate water pressure has been a longstanding problem.
Fire hydrants will be installed as part of the upgraded network, providing additional fire protection infrastructure and improving community safety.
All these will be done by the project Contractor, Monier Limited, who has the latest and improved construction materials.
According to Monier Representative, Mr. Anup Singh, the pipes they will be using are scientifically tested and proven as ecofriendly and will last for 50 years.
For residents of Elevala and neighbouring villages, the project represents a significant investment in basic infrastructure and community wellbeing after years of challenges associated with inadequate water supply.
The initiative is also expected to contribute to improved public health by providing communities with greater access to clean and safe potable water, reducing the risks associated with unreliable or unsafe water sources.
The Moresby North-West Member has indicated that Wards 7, 8, 10 and 11 are expected to follow after the successful completion of the Ward 1 project.
The broader objective is to progressively improve water supply services across the electorate and ensure communities have access to reliable, adequate and sustainable potable water.
The Ward 1 project is therefore, being regarded as an important step towards improving the health, safety and quality of life of communities across Moresby North-West.