Case StudyCase Study

Leak Detection Program On Niue Island’s Leak Detection Program On Niue Island’s Water ResourceWater Resource

VisionVision

To provide good quality, adequate, To provide good quality, adequate, continuous and a sustainable supply of continuous and a sustainable supply of

water to the people of Niue Island.water to the people of Niue Island.

Niue Island Water ResourceNiue Island Water Resource

Niue’s public water supply is dependent upon an Niue’s public water supply is dependent upon an underground freshwater reserve. There is no surface water underground freshwater reserve. There is no surface water on the Island.on the Island.

The groundwater resource consists of a ‘lens’ that lies 60 The groundwater resource consists of a ‘lens’ that lies 60 meters below ground level and this is floating on the sea meters below ground level and this is floating on the sea water. Less porous limestone on the outer edge of the water. Less porous limestone on the outer edge of the island restricts lateral flow of fresh water into the sea.island restricts lateral flow of fresh water into the sea.

The water quality of the lens is naturally suitable for The water quality of the lens is naturally suitable for drinking and it is piped untreated to all villages. About 85% drinking and it is piped untreated to all villages. About 85% of the water pumped is for domestic use, 10% for of the water pumped is for domestic use, 10% for agriculture use and 5% is available for industrial use. Due agriculture use and 5% is available for industrial use. Due to the fact that Niue is facing a population decline, to the fact that Niue is facing a population decline, consumers are not charged for water use.consumers are not charged for water use.

Issues on Niue Island Water Issues on Niue Island Water SupplySupply

Water Supply is unreliableWater Supply is unreliableWater Demand exceeds supplyWater Demand exceeds supply All Water Pumps working at full capacity – All Water Pumps working at full capacity –

possibility of over pumpingpossibility of over pumping Public reservoir remains empty leading to water Public reservoir remains empty leading to water being supplied direct to consumers; vulnerable being supplied direct to consumers; vulnerable during cyclone seasons.during cyclone seasons. High power consumption cost for all pumps High power consumption cost for all pumps operating 24 hrsoperating 24 hrs

Con’tCon’t

Insufficient water reaching many end of the line Insufficient water reaching many end of the line consumers consumers

Waste and sewage disposal systems inadequateWaste and sewage disposal systems inadequate Inexperienced workforce in the Water Supply Inexperienced workforce in the Water Supply

DivisionDivision Lack of MaintenanceLack of Maintenance Lack of Regulation and Policies on Water resourceLack of Regulation and Policies on Water resource Lack of funds to carry out the operationLack of funds to carry out the operation

Issues were Address by-Issues were Address by-

Monitoring power consumption on all water pumpsMonitoring power consumption on all water pumps House to house Inspection around the Island - House to house Inspection around the Island -

repairs to all leaking water fittingsrepairs to all leaking water fittings Installation of Float Valves on household water Installation of Float Valves on household water

tanks to prevent overflowing tanks to prevent overflowing Installation of Automatic Float Valves on Public Installation of Automatic Float Valves on Public

Water Tanks Water Tanks Repair leaking water fittings on Public water Repair leaking water fittings on Public water

Supply SystemSupply System

Main Contributor to Water wastageMain Contributor to Water wastage

Source of leakage Total number of leakageSource of leakage Total number of leakage Estimated percentage of Estimated percentage of totaltotal

found on initial found on initial identified and repairs identified and repairs water wastagewater wastageleak detectionleak detection program program 1997/19981997/1998

TapsTaps 661 661 3535Toilet cisternToilet cistern 208208 3030Domestic pipe-workDomestic pipe-work 207207 1010Overflowing domestic tanksOverflowing domestic tanks 35 35 5 5Overflowing village reservoirOverflowing village reservoir 9 9 1515Leakage on Public Water Leakage on Public Water 5 5 5 5Supply SystemSupply System

As shown above Leaking Taps and running toilet cistern were the main contributor of water As shown above Leaking Taps and running toilet cistern were the main contributor of water wastage.wastage.

Monthly Power Consumption Cost Monthly Power Consumption Cost on All Water Pumps in Two Years on All Water Pumps in Two Years

Since Program StatedSince Program StatedVILLAGE

ANNUAL ELECTRICAL PUMPING COSTS NIUE ISLAND

FOR PERIODFROM AUGUST 1997 TO

DECEMBER 1999(READINGS ARE TAKEN EVERY 28 DAYS,

SAVINGS ARE DUE TO REGULAR MAINTENANCE)

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

100000

110000

120000

130000

140000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2828 DAY READINGS FROM AUGUST 1997

NZ DOLLARS

PRESSURE PUMPS

ALOFI NORTH SP4ALOFI NORTH SP3ALOFI SOUTH SP2

ALOFI SOUTH SPI

TAMAKAUTOGA

AVATELE

VAIEA (NEWPUMP)HAKAPU

LIKU

LAKEPA

MUTALAU

TOI

HIKUTAVE

NAMUKULU ANDAG TUAPA

MAKEFU

OutcomeOutcome

Savings in annual power consumption was in Savings in annual power consumption was in excess of $50,000.00, Also it reduce fuel used for excess of $50,000.00, Also it reduce fuel used for generating electricity.generating electricity.

Increase the Operational life of all pumpsIncrease the Operational life of all pumps

Water Reservoir were full and the water supply to Water Reservoir were full and the water supply to consumers is reliable; the reservoirs can supply consumers is reliable; the reservoirs can supply consumers up to three day if pump failsconsumers up to three day if pump fails

The results of the work done has been used as a The results of the work done has been used as a tool for awareness programstool for awareness programs

On-going Strategy to maintain the On-going Strategy to maintain the SystemSystem

Maintain monitoring of monthly power Maintain monitoring of monthly power consumption on all water pumpsconsumption on all water pumps

Maintain monthly preventative maintenance Maintain monthly preventative maintenance programprogram

Continue with fast response to report of Continue with fast response to report of leaks from publicleaks from public

Continue with community awareness Continue with community awareness programsprograms

Major Outstanding Issues on Niue Major Outstanding Issues on Niue Water ResourceWater Resource

Creation of Water Utility GIS- Currently Creation of Water Utility GIS- Currently undertaken and is not completedundertaken and is not completed

Monitoring of the Water QualityMonitoring of the Water Quality Modeling for sustainable catchments yields- Modeling for sustainable catchments yields-

identify the quantity and the direction of the identify the quantity and the direction of the outflowoutflow

All of the above requires funding and All of the above requires funding and expertise to be carried out.expertise to be carried out.