Page 20 - Islands Business October 2022

CLA-VAL PACIFIC

Fluid Control Solutions

AVOIDING A WASHOUT

MEETING THE SDGS Cla-Val AQUA Air Valves
- Allows air in when draining the pipeline
- Allows air out when filling the pipeline
By Samantha Magick
- Allows accumulated air out of the pipeline under normal operation
- Anti-Slam controls air release under pump trip applications to
There has been a significant decline in donor funding for safeguard the pipeline
water, sanitation and hygiene projects in the Pacific, as the
region continues to lag behind the Sustainable Development
Goals on access to water.
A recent study by UNICEF has found that overall, water, Cla-Val X43H Strainer
sanitation and hygiene (WASH) spending accounts for 2.1% of The Cla-Val Model X43H Strainer offers an effective means of
GDP, but that this varies to as low as 0.5% or as high as 10% of removing unwanted solid particles in pipeline flow. These strainers
GDP, depending on the country. are ideal for preventing fouling, debris and particle build up in Cla-
Approximately US$230-US$270 million is spent on WASH per
annum in the region. However after a peak in donor and pub- Val Automatic Control Valves. The large flow area design, with a flat
stainless-steel strainer mesh perpendicular to flow, is optimized for
lic funding in 2018, this investment has declined. low pressure drop applications.
WASH funding is at just one-eighth of the rate needed to
meet the SDGs, says the World Bank’s water supply and sanita-
tion expert, Shona Fitzgerald.
“Access to water is regressing, so in many places we are PRESSURE MANAGEMENT
not keeping up with population growth,” she told this month’s
Pacific Regional infrastructure Facility (PRIF) meeting. Men at work on Samoa’s water supply. Photo: Supplied.
The World Bank’s WASH portfolio includes infrastructure as
well as analytical/technical assistance, such as a study now
underway to look at how well the Pacific’s water utilities are funded WASH infrastructure:
prepared to meet the challenges of climate change. • Murphy’s Law applies, what can go wrong usually will
In the pipeline is a US$70 million project in Papua New • Logistics and communication can be difficult o
Guinea, a Solomon Islands urban water supply program • The cost to deliver services in the Pacific is high mitigate the rise of transients, which can cause pipe bursts an
(cofunded with the Asian Development Bank, European • Capacity of government agencies can be low l pressure
Union and others), and other programs in Kiribati, Tonga and • Availability of national consultants is limited e
Vanuatu. • Strong home office/backup support is essential
At the Asian Development Bank (ADB), WASH projects • [There is] Increased ADB focus on readiness and reduc-
make up about 8% of the regional portfolio, with 17 projects ing risk The Cla-Val
currently in play, and another nine targeted, representing a • Increasing ADB use of output-based contracts s the precise control of field-proven Cla-
US$215 million investment. • Increasing ADB use of independent design review essure
The ADB’s Steve Blaik told PRIF that they’ve seen cost blow- ssure to
outs during the pandemic, “and a lot of our projects we’re As with many Pacific Island industrial and business sectors, rate
putting in additional financing to cover the cost overruns. labour shortages are having an impact on the delivery of
“With the current global economic situation and ongoing un- WASH projects.
certainties with the ongoing pandemic, some of the projects “What we see in a number of countries in this post COVID le of
may not proceed, or may be delayed, and we’ve seen a lot of period is that there is a huge amount of activity. And there is re.
that over the last two years. Likewise, there might be changes a huge problem with availability of resources, contractors and ntrol
in the financing volumes,” he cautioned. consultants. So, I think firstly, I think that’s one issue that will e setting
ADB’s slated projects include work in South Tarawa (Kiri- need to be addressed. Because every international project re- settings
bati), Chuuk (FSM), Palau, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Fiji, Nauru quires local counterparts and at the moment that’s certainly ller.
and Vanuatu. problematic with our projects in Kiribati and Solomons,” says
The Bank organises its WASH interventions under the ‘Pacific Blaik.
Urban Update’ which focuses on improving and sustaining Fitzgerald at the World Bank agrees, but notes there is
basic services, improving spatial planning and increasing resil- good academic capacity in the region that could be further
ience to climate change and disasters. harnessed, citing as one example, a successful partnership 45 Kennaway Road, Woolston, Christchurch
This year’s PRIF was focused on private sector opportuni- they have with the Solomon Islands National University. Tel: +64 (0)3 964 4860 !"#$%#"&'#()*)(
ties in infrastructure projects, and Blaik had some advice for Email: aspacsales@cla-val.com +,&-.//#0#1 23#45&633"783/5&!9:)78(9;:(95&<.0&=.#"#/4
businesses and contractors looking to work in internationally editor@islandsbusiness.com
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20 Islands Business, October 2022
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