WASTEWATER management in Honiara is expected to be enhanced once the $80 Million Solomon Water sewer works from the Fisheries to Ranadi Roundabout Project currently under construction is completed.
Solomon Water said this sewer works is among several major capital works investment projects under its overall 30-Year Strategic Plan.
The State-Owned Enterprise announced this in a statement yesterday following public concerns over the slowness of the works it is doing along the eastward-bound lanes of the Kukum Highway besides the Solomon Islands National University’s School of Marine.
“Our Strategic Plan put in motion a program of infrastructure development in the water and sanitation sector worth over SBD3.1 billion.
“Solomon Water as the leading water utility has prepared and commenced the construction of several major capital works investment projects under its 30-Year Strategic Plan.
“The Solomon Water Sewer Works – Fisheries to Ranadi Roundabout Project – valued at over SBD80M is currently under construction with an estimated completion date of March 2025.
The “Fisheries to Ranadi Roundabout” sewer project, is one of a number of key capital investment under our Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Program (UWSSSP),” the statement said.
The statement said the sewer works project when completed will establish a sewer connection for domestic and commercial customers from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to Ranadi and thereby provide long-term sanitation services and benefits to the Honiara community.
“Once completed, it will help prevent sewer overflows and reduce the risk of environmental contamination, ensuring better protection of local water sources and contributing to public health.
“The upgraded sewer system will also accommodate the city’s growth, supporting future residential, commercial and industrial developments,” Solomon Water added.
The sewer works include civil works, excavations and sheet piling, to enable the installation of 1.2 kilometers of large diameter (700mm) sewer pipes and related manholes up to 6 meters deep.
The statement said despite significant progress, with estimated completion date late March 2025, the project has encountered some challenges, including delays due to the Pacific Games when the entire project had to be shut down for 11 weeks with trenches backfilled and the road temporarily resurfaced.
It said further delays have arisen due to exceptionally hard rock and excavation difficulties, and frequent heavy rains that cause flooding in the trenches.
“These factors have slowed the civil works, but we remain committed to delivering the project in the shortest time possible,” the statement said.
The statement said to enable the efficient and safe delivery of the works, the project has been programmed and divided into five stages of construction as follows:
- Stage 1 works from Ranadi Roundabout to ANZ Building turn-in, expected to be completed by December 2024;
- Stage 2 works from ANZ Building turn-in to Solo Gas, expected to be completed by end of August 2024;
- Stage 3 works from Solo Gas to Panatina Plaza, expected to be completed by December 2024;
- Stage 4 works from Panatina Plaza to SINU turn-in, expected to be completed by April 2025; and
- Stage 5 works from Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to Panatina Plaza, recently completed.
Solomon Water in the statement acknowledged the inconvenience caused to motorists and the public by the works along the main road.
It said it will continue to monitor, review and update its safety, traffic and construction management programs and activities to ensure the impact of road users, pedestrians and the general public is kept to an absolute minimum while works safely continue.
Solomon Water in the statement also acknowledged and apologized for any inconvenience caused to motorists and the public and its expressed appreciation for their patience and understanding as it works to deliver its major works program for the benefit of the Honiara community.
It also expressed its commitment to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable water and wastewater services to improve the health and environment of Solomon Islands.
- Solomon Water