NADI, FIJI – Vanuatu’s Electrique du Vanuatu Ltd was rated the Best Performing Pacific Water Utility of the Year according to the 2013 edition of the Pacific Water and Wastewater Utilities Benchmarking Report, released yesterday by the Pacific Water and Wastes Association (PWWA).
The 24 utilities that participated in the benchmarking survey are supplying water to about 1.9 million people and provide wastewater services to approximately 400,000 people in the Pacific.
Other top performers named in the report include: Water Authority Fiji, named Best Wastewater and Sanitation Utility, the Samoa Independent Water Association was rated best in Human Resources Management and Tonga Water Board was named the best financial performer. The Public Utilities Corporation of Chuuk showed most improvement as compared to last year.
“The performance of Pacific water utilities is improving but more needs to be done,” said Latu Kupa, Executive Director of Pacific Water and Wastes Association. “This report will improve the availability and quality of information and transparency in the water sector and in this way help boosting service delivery.”
This is the third benchmarking report prepared by PWWA and it has been well received by water utilities throughout the region. Based on experience of the past three years PWWA has adopted a strategy for continued water utility benchmarking in the Pacific region.
The PWWA report presents the performance results of 24 water utilities in the Pacific region and was prepared with the support of the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF). The PRIF partners – the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Australia, the European Commission, and European Investment Bank, JICA, New Zealand, and the World Bank Group are assisting Pacific governments with improving infrastructure and services in the region.
The current pipeline of water and sanitation projects in the region exceeds $US350 million in investments.
