Climate Change Resilience
Solar water purifiers, demonstrated under the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project, have proved very successful in Nauru. Now, the Republic of the Marshall Islands is hoping to replicate this success to improve water security on the Republic’s outer islands.
Solar purifiers produce clean drinking water from seawater, contaminated groundwater or any other source of non-potable water. Solar panels capture the sun’s energy and use it to evaporate the water, which leaves behind contaminants such as salt or bacteria. The water that condenses from the unit is pure drinking water. The units also produce UV-treated hot water, and as a bonus they have a gutter that allows collection of rainwater.
In Nauru, the solar purifiers were first installed in the district of Aiwo in September 2011 as part of that country’s PACC demonstration project. Communities reported very positive experiences with the units. The technology is currently spreading within Nauru, with the help of donors such as the Japanese government.
Recognising the potential of the water purifiers for the Marshall Islands, the PACC RMI team seized a recent opportunity to raise awareness of the technology during the Pacific Islands Forum in Majuro in September. Australian company, F Cubed, a world leader in solar water purifier technology, donated two units for demonstration purposes. Set up on Majuro’s dock area, they produced more than 15 litres of potable water each day from water pumped from the lagoon. Meeting participants were impressed, and an order was placed with the company for more than 100 ‘Carocell 3000’ units, which will be delivered to the Marshall Islands early in 2014.
“Demonstrating and raising awareness of promising technologies that reduce vulnerability is one of the main purposes of the PACC programme,” says PACC Regional Manager, Taito Nakalevu.
“Drought is a big challenge for many islands in our region, and is set to worsen with climate change. But there are technologies out there that can help our communities and nations manage these challenges. It’s great to see cooperation between countries, and transfer of successful technologies between our projects.”
The PACC programme has demonstration projects in 14 Pacific island countries, focusing on three key climate-sensitive sectors – water resources, food security, and coastal zone management. The Programme is funded by the Global Environment Facility and the Australian Government, with support from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Climate Change Capacity Development (C3D+). The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is the implementing partner, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) acts as implementing agency.
“The great potential of these units is to provide drinking water during drought periods, when rainwater tanks dry up and there are no other sources of drinking water available,” says RMI PACC project coordinator, Joseph Cain.
“This is a real problem on many of our atoll islands. We can definitely benefit from this technology, as Nauru is benefitting.”
Majuro Waste and Sewer Company workers help setup the Carocell units at the Marshall Islands Resort dock area for display
Majuro Waste and Sewer Company workers help setup the Carocell units at the Marshall Islands Resort dock area for displaySolar purifiers produce clean drinking water from seawater, contaminated groundwater or any other source of non-potable water. Solar panels capture the sun’s energy and use it to evaporate the water, which leaves behind contaminants such as salt or bacteria. The water that condenses from the unit is pure drinking water. The units also produce UV-treated hot water, and as a bonus they have a gutter that allows collection of rainwater.
In Nauru, the solar purifiers were first installed in the district of Aiwo in September 2011 as part of that country’s PACC demonstration project. Communities reported very positive experiences with the units. The technology is currently spreading within Nauru, with the help of donors such as the Japanese government.
Recognising the potential of the water purifiers for the Marshall Islands, the PACC RMI team seized a recent opportunity to raise awareness of the technology during the Pacific Islands Forum in Majuro in September. Australian company, F Cubed, a world leader in solar water purifier technology, donated two units for demonstration purposes. Set up on Majuro’s dock area, they produced more than 15 litres of potable water each day from water pumped from the lagoon. Meeting participants were impressed, and an order was placed with the company for more than 100 ‘Carocell 3000’ units, which will be delivered to the Marshall Islands early in 2014.
“Demonstrating and raising awareness of promising technologies that reduce vulnerability is one of the main purposes of the PACC programme,” says PACC Regional Manager, Taito Nakalevu.
“Drought is a big challenge for many islands in our region, and is set to worsen with climate change. But there are technologies out there that can help our communities and nations manage these challenges. It’s great to see cooperation between countries, and transfer of successful technologies between our projects.”
The PACC programme has demonstration projects in 14 Pacific island countries, focusing on three key climate-sensitive sectors – water resources, food security, and coastal zone management. The Programme is funded by the Global Environment Facility and the Australian Government, with support from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Climate Change Capacity Development (C3D+). The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is the implementing partner, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) acts as implementing agency.