New water supply system for Vava'u villages [1]
Friday, September 26, 2014 - 16:25. Updated on Sunday, September 28, 2014 - 15:54.
New water systems were handed over by the Japanese Ambassador to Tonga HE Dr Kazuchika Hamuro to three villages in Vava’u this week.
The water projects, valued at $500,000, funded by the Japanese government were handed over by HE Dr Kazuchika Hamuro to the villages of Ha'alaufuli, Holonga and Feletoa.
The residents of Ha’alaufuli received one 5000-gallon water tank, two pump units of solar and diesel engines, two pump houses, a water tank stand with fence, pipes and fitting worth $192,919 on Wednesday, September 24.
On Thursday September 25, Holonga residents happily received two 5000-gallon water tanks with the same units constructed with $197,041, while Feletoa received a 5000-litre water tank also with the same fitting units worth $162,930.
Dr Hamuro said by 2013, there were 103 projects out of 252 Grassroots Human Security projects implemented in the public welfare sector, including improved water systems in Tonga.
"Water is the core of daily life and the scarcity of water leads to health burdening issues and an economic loss of around 7 percent in the annual GDP of a nation."
Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security project (GGP) is aimed at fostering sustainable development at the grassroots level.