Effects of climate change on water resource of Maldives EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES TOKYO, JAPAN
The country 1190 islands, 26 natural atolls, 21 admin div 194 inhabited, 105 resorts & 60 industrial/agricultural islands 1/3 less than 500 70% less than 1000 Geography 1-2% (300km2) land and the rest are ocean Average size of island: 0.25 sq km Average elevation: 1.8 m 5% of world s reef area 7 th largest Reef system in the world Demography and development Population: 360, 759 6-8% GDP Growth 1/3 lives in capital Male HDI 0.688 in 2012 Economy 2 main industries tourism & fisheries Fishing is the largest employer Tourism is the largest foreign exchange generator
Maldivian Constitution (Article 23) recognizes the right to Safe water and Adequate Sanitation to every citizen MDG Goal 7, Target 10: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation We have a long way to go before we achieve this target. We are hopeful to achieve this target
Climate change is expected to increase the frequency, severity predictability and magnitude of natural disasters and is expected to have severe impacts (IPCC predicts 59 cm rise by year 2100) Maldives vulnerability lies in the low elevation and flat topography of the islands and the wide dispersion of the populationin small remote islands Average elevation of the islands are around 1.5 meters above sea level More than 80 inhibited islands face perennial beach erosion
Although 99% of the country is water, fresh water is the most scarce resource in the country Almost the entire fresh water aquifer of the country is now contaminated due to salt water intrusion Contaminated ground water threatens water security Traditionally people depended on fresh ground water and rain water collection After Tsunami, small desalination plants were provided to some islands. And in the Atolls each household was also provided with a 2500 L water tank (HDPE) for rainwater collection
Low lying water table Extremely contaminated ground water with increased salinity Improperly constructed sewerage systems Wastewater disposal systems in many of the outer islands are on-site sanitation with septic tanks and soak pits within the household compound
Lack of adaptation finance Declining ODA, growing debt Lack of technologies, human & institutional capacity Lack of predictable ODA and FDI
100% access to desalinated water and sewerage services with house hold connection in Male (Capital City) and immediate surrounding islands In the atolls, primary source of potable drinking water is rainwater Ground water from domestic wells are used for all other purposes Large community tanks are installed in some islands. But storage capacity is poor and inadequate Only 30 islands have improved sewerage systems outside the capital Only 5 islands have desalinated piped water network with household connections Annually many islands face acute water shortages due to the prolonged dry period. In 2012 The National Disaster Management Center (NDMC) transported desalinated water to over 120 islands costing over 4 Million Rufiyaa
OUTER ISLANDS (EXCLUDING MALE ) On-site Sewerage Sewerage network Water Supply Without Water supply Network With Piped Network 25% 10% 75% 90% * On-site sanitation is not considered as safe sanitation
NATIONWIDE Sewerage System Piped Water Network On-site Piped Network Without Piped Network Piped Network 51% 49% 40% 60% This includes the capital Male City which has 1/3 of the total population residing * On-site sanitation is not considered as safe sanitation
EMERGENCY WATER SHIPMENTS: VOLUME AND NUMBER OF ISLANDS Emergency Water Shipments: Volume and Number of Islands Water Supplied (tons) 8,000 Number of Islands 100 Volume (tonnes) 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 no data for 2010 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Number of Islands Receiving Shipments - 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 0 Year
Cost of emergency water supplied to inhabited islands during dry seasons, 2005-2012
There are currently 18 water and sewerage projects under implementation in different islands 36 new projects will start by end of this year PSIP OFID IDB Kuwait Fund Private Sector 31 Sewerage, 3 Water 5 Sewerage, 4 Water 5 Sewerage 1 Sewerage, 1Water 2 Sewerage, 2 Water
The water quality has been degraded (by high salinity and/or polluted water) and where there is insufficient space available for rainwater collection and storage, desalination has become the only alternative means of providing a safe water supply This is the case in the capital Male and other populated islands Desalination plants have been used in Maldives tourist resorts since the late 1970 s
Water Supply services with desalination in Male is carried out by Male Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) Starting from February 2010 Hitachi Plant Technology Limited, Tokyo reached an agreement with Maldivian Govt. to take 20% shares of MWSC From then Hitachi Plant Technology Limited have been participating in the operation of MWSC The first desalination plant in Male was installed in 1988 with a capacity of 200 m3/day. In line with increases in population and water consumption, the capacity has been increased steadily Most households use desalinated water for drinking and cooking, bathing and other domestic purposes Groundwater is mainly used for toilet flushing MWSC has extended the services to approximately 40% of the entire Maldivian population, and is further expanding its business by implementing new projects
The cost of water varies according to whether it is used for domestic or commercial purposes The domestic tariff is stepped so as to provide a minimum quantity of water per day at an affordable rate Table below gives the details of Existing tariff for water in Male Note: Fixed Line charge MRF 30 per month (US$1.95) Consumer Group Consumption Rate Price to consumer per m3 Band 1 0-100 Ltr/d USD 1.4 per m3 Band 2 101-500 Ltr/d USD 4.5 per m3 Band 2 Above 500Ltr/d USD 6.1per m3 Institutional Commercial Fixed Monthly Fee USD 4.9 m3 USD 6.5 m3 USD 2 per month/connection
HDh Kulhudhufushi Island Consumer Group Consumprtion Rate Price to consumer per m3 Band 1 0-100 Ltr/d USD 4.2 per m3 Band 2 101-200 Ltr/d USD 4.8 per m3 Band 2 Above 201 Ltr/d USD 6.4per m3 Institutional USD 6.4 m3 Commercial USD 6.4 m3 Fixed Monthly Fee USD 2 per month/connection
Reverse osmosis (RO), has emerged as the most suitable technology due to the compact size of the systems and the lower cost of operation and maintenance. The capacity for producing desalinated water has increased steadily since 1988 (see table below) Year 1988 200 1995 2000 2002 5800 2013 17,000 Production Capacity in Male Total Desalination capacity (m3/d) The quantity of water consumed has steadily increased since 1996, as Table below shows Month 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2012 Total (m3) 323.3 571.9 728.6 905.0 1098.0 1206.9 4,400,000.00
Male s desalinated water is expensive. The average household spends between US$60 and $80 per average household/month for water. Wastewater charges are also included in the water charge. The application of charges has made the public aware and willing to conserve and use water judiciously.
Outside of Male, desalination is most widely used in the tourist resorts. Each resort island has its own desalination plant. The water produced is generally used for bathing only, as guests are encouraged to buy bottled water for drinking. These plants are usually operated and maintained by a technician appointed for that purpose. The associated costs are covered by the resorts revenue, of which they are relatively small percentage. Besides the resorts, outside Male only 5 islands at present has a desalination plant with piped water supply networks and house connections. However, there are over 40 desalination plants supplied to the islands after the tsunami mainly for emergency use or as a supplementary water source. One of these islands outside Male in Hdh. Kulhudhufushi (6000 population ) water supply and people has to pay a higher cost for water for compared to the capital Male. This is mainly because of the small population observed compared to the Capital hence having to face the challenges of economy of scale.
Besides rainwater, groundwater and desalinated water, the only other source of water available is bottled water. Although some of this bottled water is mineral water imported from neighboring countries, a significant percentage is actually desalinated water produced in Male Bottled water is also commonly used by people for drinking purposes. A 1.5 liter bottle retails in local markets for around US$0.32
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