The Appropriate Technology and Community Development Institute (ATCDI) at Unitech has successfully completed a Water Supply Project in Nuknuk Village, Salamaua, Morobe Province, on April 12, 2024. This project was funded by the Department of National Planning and Monitoring under the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) Policy. The people of Nuknuk Village in the Salamaua Local Level Government (LLG) area now have access to safe and clean water, which they had longed for over many years. The village had faced significant challenges in accessing a reliable water supply for daily needs such as drinking, cooking, and sanitation. Due to the lack of a proper water supply system, the residents, particularly women and girls, previously had to walk long distances to fetch water from safe sources. Now, with the completion of the project, the people of Nuknuk Village are enjoying fresh, clean, and safe water right in front of their homes without needing to walk long distances anymore. The establishment of the water supply system falls under the Water and Sanitation Program, one of the five key programs offered by ATCDI to improve the lives of people in rural communities across Papua New Guinea (PNG). This water supply project is crucial for enhancing the community's overall health, well-being, and quality of life by providing access to clean and safe drinking water. The people of Nuknuk Village are privileged to receive such service from the PNG Government through the support of the Department of National Planning and Monitoring under the WaSH Policy. Nuknuk Village is located in the Salamaua LLG of the Huon Gulf District, Morobe Province, where the community has struggled with access to clean and safe water for many years. The only way to reach the village is by boat, and all materials for the project, including tanks, a generator, and other equipment, were transported by boat. The landscape of the area is flat, causing water to flow slowly. Due to the area's topography, the contractor built a catchment system to divert water into a dam. From the dam, the water is pumped up to two reservoir tanks located on a higher hill. The atmospheric pressure from the elevated tanks causes the water to flow rapidly through connected pipes down to the village.
Lead Engineer for the Water and Sanitation Program and Acting Director at ATCDI, Mr. Sona Anegi, urged all community members of Nuknuk Village to take care of the government-provided infrastructure, emphasizing that the government would not spend on a similar project in the same area again. "You are fortunate to have this project in your community, so you must take ownership and responsibility for it," Mr. Anegi said. He told the villagers that this project is a lifelong service that will benefit current and future generations. He also noted that the lifespan of the project depends on how well the community maintains it. "Getting the funding and implementing the project is not the problem; the challenge lies in how the community looks after it," Mr. Anegi stated. The community members of Nuknuk Village expressed great happiness when they saw water flowing through taps at their doorsteps. A female representative, Miss Sawali, thanked the ATCDI-Unitech team for their commitment to the project from start to finish. Representing all the women and girls in the village, she expressed her joy, noting that the project had met one of the most basic needs of the community. She added that they would no longer have to walk long distances just to fetch water for cooking and drinking. A male representative, Mr. David, also shared his appreciation, thanking the ATCDI team for their cooperation and positive relationship with the villagers throughout the project's duration. Looking ahead, ATCDI is eager to carry out more such programs in other rural communities. The department has established connections with various stakeholders, including District Development Authorities and business houses, to facilitate similar programs. These efforts align with the government's Development Strategic Plan to achieve 70% accessibility to water supply and sanitation in rural communities of PNG by 2030. All these activities contribute to the global Vision 2050 and the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to water supply, ATCDI is also working on other key programs to improve living standards in rural communities across PNG.
Due to the area's topography, the contractor built a catchment system to divert water into a dam. From the dam, the water is pumped up to two reservoir tanks located on a higher hill. The atmospheric pressure from the elevated tanks causes the water to flow rapidly through connected pipes down to the village. communities across PNG.
Nuknuk Village is located in the Salamaua LLG of the Huon Gulf District, Morobe Province, where the community has struggled with access to clean and safe water for many years. The only way to reach the village is by boat, and all materials for the project, including tanks, a generator, and other equipment, were transported by boat. The landscape of the area is flat, causing water to flow slowly.
