A task force led by Indian representatives, in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines, Energy, and Electrification, is preparing to visit Gizo in Western province to assess their water crisis.
The team plans to carry out a feasibility study for a desalination plant.
Patrick Toiraena, the Provincial Secretary of Western Province, confirmed the development in an interview with the Solomon Star last week.
Toiraena said, the feasibility study will determine whether the project can be effectively implemented, paving the way for the construction of the desalination plant.
He said Gizo has endured a decade-long struggle with inadequate water supply, and the proposed desalination plant could provide a sustainable solution to this critical issue.
Apart from that, Toiraena said the study will also consider the water needs of Noro, a nearby town that faces similar challenges.
A desalination plant is a facility that removes salt and other impurities from seawater or brackish water to produce fresh, potable water. The process typically involves one of two main methods which is Reverse Osmosis- this method uses a membrane to filter out salt and contaminants. Water is forced through the membrane under high pressure, leaving the salt behind.
Another one Thermal Distillation- this process involves heating water to create steam, which is then condensed back into liquid water, leaving salts and impurities behind.
Meanwhile, Western Provincial Government has approved a contractor to drill the Mile 6 water source to see if any possibility to provide sufficient water distribution for the Gizo residents.
By Ulutah Gina
Solomon Star, Gizo
