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14 September 2022: The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology (MECCT) has today handed over and operationalized an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) system in Haa Dhaalu Nolhivaranfaru island. This is part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) supported “Supporting vulnerable communities in Maldives to manage climate change induced water shortages” project to secure year-round, safe, reliable, and uninterrupted water supply to residents of the most vulnerable outer islands – around 105,000 people, or one third of the national population.
The IWRM systems handed over to the community, will ensure reliable and safe water supply to every household in the island. The systems launched today in Haa Dhaalu Nolhivaranfaru will activate the water supply and distribution network that can ensure sufficient supply of water to over 1000 residents of Nolhivaranfaru, giving them access to safe drinking water, increasing their water security and helping them overcome water shortages caused due to climate change.
The project has established 4 IWRM systems and 25 Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) Systems in 29 islands.
New climate-resilient IWRM are now operational on the four main islands of Nolhivaranfaru, Foakaidhoo, Maduvvari, and Dharavandhoo. The systems – which bring together rainwater, groundwater and desalinated water – will serve as distribution hubs for seven northern atolls during the dry season.
The Rainwater Harvesting Systems are an improvement on existing community systems, with the tanks designed to collect 150 tonnes of water in addition to water collected at various public buildings. Unlike the existing community tanks, the project’s systems use ultrafiltration to treat harvested rainwater. In total, the Rainwater Harvesting Systems are expected to provide an additional 3,750 tonnes of water storage for 25 communities, reducing the need to request supplies from the capital.
Taken together, the systems will provide around 20,000 people with an uninterrupted supply of clean water and ease the impacts of water shortages.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Technology. H.E. Ms. Aminath Shauna said, “Today, with the operationalization of the IWRM systems, we are not only solving the issue of water shortages during the dry season. Proper water and sanitation systems are key to development. Completion of this project means attracting development project to the island of Nolhivaranfaru in the future."
“At times like these, it is important to remember that the water network is only part of the solution. Resilience needs to be built in at all levels - within the regulations governing natural resource management at national and subnational levels, within development interventions and activities, and within the day-to-day lives of households and individuals. Having a water network, should not mean that we discard household and community level tanks, which has been and will continue to be a source of resilience to climate change and disasters. We need to maintain and build on time-tested mechanisms established within the communities to enhance our resilience to climate change,” UNDP’s Resident Representative in the Maldives, Enrico Gaveglia said.
The IWRM systems are an innovative, localized and climate-smart solution to water shortage throughout the country. In addition to the mix of rainwater, the IWRM systems will utilize solar energy for water production (100% renewable energy powered) to further reduce the cost of production. Piped water networks to each household will provide them with a metered water connection, whereby a fee will be charged through a tariff system. The IWRM facility also has water quality testing laboratories embedded to ensure the quality of the water with training provided to the system operators as well.
