SOLOMON Water has announced steps to address the recent issues with brackish water in the water supply in Noro, Western Province.
A statement from Solomon Water said, “Upon receiving information about complaints from customers on Sunday evening, Solomon Water immediately dispatched a team to investigate the issue. We discovered a high level of electrical conductivity (EC) in the water, indicating the presence of salt water, and have identified that the cause of the brackish water was due to salt water intrusion in the water supply system during high tide.
“The team’s first task upon arrival was to ensure that the water supply system was cleaned of any presence of salt water, which was carried out on Monday this week. This action has led to our electrical conductivity (EC) test results now being within the World Health Organization (WHO) Drinking Water standards or guidelines.”
The statement said that in order to prevent any future incidents, its team is working to improve its monitoring and testing regime for EC tests, especially during king tides and high seas from low depression periods.
“Additionally, we have put controls in place to minimise the risk of salt water intrusion in the future. This includes temporarily shutting down our water production plant, if necessary,” it said.
The statement further added, “We are also working on finding immediate, short-term and long-term solutions to mitigate the risk posed by high seas and king tides, which could include substantial changes to our intake infrastructure.
“We would like to continue to reassure our customers that we understand the importance of clean and safe drinking water and are committed to providing our customers with the highest level of service. We regret the hardship the recent brackish water issue caused for our valued customers in Noro and we appreciate your patience as we work to resolve the issue.” For updates and further information, please contact our customer care services in Noro and in Honiara.
