More than 5 million Pacific people don’t have access to basic drinking water. This needs to change.
Data shows 45% of people across the region do not have access to basic drinking water facilities (JMP report) and research shows the impact of climate change will further exacerbate some of the challenges communities face in accessing water for drinking and household needs.
Traditionally, many communities in the Pacific have relied on groundwater – a fresh water source created by rainfall seeping underground and accumulating in the small spaces that exist between particles of sand, soil and rock. These underground water sources, accessed via wells and springs, have sustained communities for generations, even during periods of low rainfall. Over time, many communities have complimented their groundwater with other sources of fresh water, such as tanks to capture and store rainwater collected from roofs.
However, communities across the Pacific now face new challenges in maintaining access to safe drinking water. The impacts of population growth and movement, disasters, and climate change place additional pressure on drinking water systems and can harm fragile water sources that communities rely upon for their daily needs.
