Neiafu Water Project

The people of Neiafu have been without adequate water for a very long time. This problem is much worse when school is in session as there are seven high schools (including Saineha LDS School) and the large primary GPS school that do not have the water they need. The church buildings (including LDS chapels) in the area rely on community water supply which is what we are trying to improve. Families who receive water from this system have been without water for extended periods (ie. 2 months) and have had to bring in water from outside the community.

Neiafu water system has 15 boreholes and of these 6 are not working and 9 are working. Water problems/shortages have existed since 1981. The 9 working pumps do not provide enough water for the needs of the community. This is especially true during the school year when the students and their families from the various islands live in Neiafu. 

We propose providing three (3) AC electric pump sets for Neiafu, Vava'u, Tonga. The Neiafu Water Committee's contribution to the project will be 15% of the Tonga Water Board quote plus installation of a fence around the area and a shelter over the pumps to protect them from the weather. The pumps will be sustained by a monthly fee charged to the users to be used for maintenance and future repair.

We had difficulty getting this project moving. Two holes were dug, pumps installed and put into operation. Then, the borehole digger broke and had to be repaired --- no small task in Tonga. Parts come from New Zealand or Australia.

We visited Neiafu again on March 24, 2019 and found the parts have arrived and the borehole digger is working. However, there is a typhoid outbreak in Leimatu’a so the work there has priority. Tonga Water Board assured us they would then move on to drill the remaining Neiafu borehole and finish our project.

Project was finally completed in November 2019. Neiafu is very excited to finally have adequate water for their needs.

Your struggles don't define you but they shape the person you become when you face them and overcome.