Water and sanitation

WATER

Some small islands are often confronted with water shortages: their limited size, topography, low density plant cover, scarcity of springs, poor water infiltration into groundwater, inadequate geology, or even the lack of rain, are likely to cause serious shortages in water availability. Reserves are limited to a thin layer of water on flat islands, groundwater is vulnerable to tides and the rise of saltwater infiltration accentuated by climate change and sea level rise. Higher islands potentially have larger water resources, but their storage capacity remains limited due to the lack of dedicated space or infiltration. access to drinking water on islands is therefore very uneven, as fresh water quality can be affected by the infiltration of seawater in the groundwater, or by pollution due to agricultural, domestic, or touristic activities.

Other islands that are less exposed to water shortages (with heavy rainfall or pipelines, etc.) may however be faced with misuse, over-use or storage problem.

THEREFORE, PARTNERS MUST AT LEAST:

 

  • Regularly assess the quantity and quality of freshwater resources available on the island, assess the state of the network, and define pressures exerted on this resource according to different uses;
  • Conduct awareness campaigns on the rational use of water and on everyday measures to reduce or optimize consumption;
  • Develop sustainable measures to conserve water resources: minimize pesticides use and other artificial products; improving wastewater collection and sanitation; eliminate non-inert waste burial (authorized or unauthorized);
  • Protect catchment basins and water sampling areas by establishing regulatory perimeters, possibly physically delimited and protected on the surface, and publicly recognised;
  • Ensure minimal ecological flow in rivers and proper sediment dynamics associated with coastal systems;
  • If and when the island’s fresh water supply from the mainland is a necessity, favour water transportation in large quantities – use barges with reusable tanks, cisterns or containers, etc. – which will then be stored on the island in large capacity tanks or fountains, in order to limit the unnecessary use of plastic;
AND PROGRESSIVELY AIM TO:

 

  • Reduce pressures on water resources at the source: setting up water-saving appliances in homes and tourist infrastructures, alternative public bathrooms – dry toilets or some equivalent, depending on local social acceptability – setting up suitable irrigation systems such as drip irrigation systems, spraying, etc.;
  • Encourage dialogue and conflict management between water users by setting up exchange committees such a “basin committees” (or “bay contracts”), creation of “water” funds by the committee to support waters-hed protection measures, etc.

SANITATION

In coastal areas of developing countries, up to 90% of wastewater is released directly into the oceans untreated, often polluted by pathogens, chemical pollutants, pesticides, chemical fertilizers and other hydrocarbons or waste oils generating negative impacts not only on the inhabitants’ health but also on freshwater and marine environments.

THEREFORE, PARTNERS MUST AT LEAST:

  • Update existing water treatment infrastructure, based on in-depth studies to assess wastewater (quantity, quality) and its negative impacts on the environment, – such as micro wastewater treatment plants – and update collection and sewage systems – including individual and collective septic tanks – to remove wastewater from residential homes, catchment areas, and fragile terrestrial and marine ecosystems. treat wastewater properly and particularly control discharges in the sea.
  • Increase awareness of the people regarding products that are non-toxic and non-polluting for groundwater and, on the other hand, products likely to deteriorate systems – household oils, etc.
  • For islands with many tourists, adapt the available facilities to the number of visitors: number of bathrooms/toilets available, in particular.
AND PROGRESSIVELY AIM TO:

  • Use alternative technologies adapted to the island’s context, such as phyto-purification (filtering plants), lagooning, natural filtration (such as mangroves).
  • Establish systems for tertiary wastewater treatment to ensure water re-use – for agricultural purposes in particular, if permitted by regulation.
  • Use sewage sludge for energy or agricultural purposes: spreading it if the capacity of the soil and the type of sludge allows it or use it as fuel or as a source of gas production.