Access to safe drinking water is a basic need and is one of the most important contributors to public health and to the economic health of communities. Pacific island countries have yet to overcome the challenge of providing a safe and adequate supply of drinking water to its populations. Infectious, waterborne diseases, such as Typhoid and Cholera and newly emerging pathogens are a major cause of morbidity and mortality within the Pacific region.
This report describes a drilling program, undertaken over two visits in late 1996 and April-May
1997 at and near Mataki’eua on the island of Tongatapu. The purpose of the program was to
install seven water salinity monitoring holes, one production hole and provide training to drillers at
the Ministry of Works.
Funded by the European Union (UN) Disaster Risk Reduction Project in Eight Pacific
ACP States (B-Envelope) and implemented by the Applied Geosciences and
Technology (SOPAC) Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), this
project is worked closely with Tonga’s Ministry of Lands, Environment, Climate Change
and Natural Resources (MLECCNR) to of 6 new investigative and Salinity Monitoring
Bores (SMB's) across Tongatapu which is outlined in this report. These new
An analysis is made of the groundwater resources of Tongatapu Island. The Ghyben-Herzberg approximation is used to estimate thicknesses of a fresh-water lens floating on seawater. Finite-difference calculations are used to estimate rainfall recharge rates, and calculations are made to investigate the dispersion of chloride ions across the fresh-water-sale-water interface. These calculations suggest that artificial recharge might be useful devise to control chloride concentrations in the fresh-water aquifier.
This report acts as a background paper on the current status of wastewater and sanitation in Tonga.
It was based on an independent review of available literature and stakeholder consultations
conducted from 4 – 8 August (refer to annex 1 for agencies/representatives consulted).
Groundwater availability in relation to water demands in Tongatapu.
The mission specifically focused on the issue of sustained available water resources for
the water supply of Nuku’alofa and the consequences of using scarce groundwater
resources for irrigation of crops.
The mission has built on research of the Government of Tonga often supported by the
South Pacific Commission (SPC), ADB, EU and bilateral donors.
Over the past 40 years, investigations in Tongatapu have identified a number of natural and
human-related factors that increase or have the potential to increase the vulnerability of fresh
groundwater sources. Some of these studies have suggested strategies to lessen impacts and
improve resilience. This project builds on the considerable weight of those results as well as the
depth of local expertise and the valuable, long-term record of monitoring. Our aim here is to
Fangauta Lagoon is the most important water
body on Tongatapu, the main island of the Tonga
group. The Lagoon occupies a central position on
Tongatapu (Fig. 1), and has played a major part in the
life of the surrounding communities, with about 30,000
people residing within its catchment. The Lagoon is a
food source for both fin (mainly mullet) and shellfish,
and is widely used for recreation. Previous studies have
investigated the ecology of the Lagoon (Zann et al.,
1984), water quality (Naidu et al., 1991; Aalbersberg
Two thirds of the population of the Kingdom of Tonga, live on the small, South Pacific raised
limestone island of Tongatapu. Groundwater is the principle source of reticulated fresh water both in
the capital Nuku’alofa and in rural villages and is sourced from a relatively thin, fresh groundwater lens
overlying seawater. This paper describes a comprehensive, integrated assessment of the vulnerability
of fresh groundwater in Tongatapu. Water resources policy and legislation, and the organisation
Report on survey work to provide baseline information on the status of reef
fisheries, and to help fill the massive information gap that hinders the effective management
of reef fisheries. Surveys took place 2001, 2002 and 2008.
Pdf report. The Tonga NPOA (sharks) is a policy guideline that ensures conservation and management of oceanic sharks in the Kingdom’s fisheries waters. It also promotes long-term sustainability and optimum use of sharks in Tonga’s Tuna longline fishery in accordance to national development policy frameworks, and special needs and requirements to develop and commercialise its fisheries. In the medium-long term, the Plan serves to minimize any adverse environmental effects of fishing on oceanic shark species.
The Tonga Deepwater Fishery Management Plan guides the management and devel-opment of the deep slope resources of snapper, grouper and emperors in Tonga fisher-ies waters.