ADB, Australia to Help Improve Water Supply in Nuku'alofa
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) joined the governments of Tonga and Australia in an inauguration ceremony today to officially mark the completion of upgrading work of the Mataki’eua water supply system as part of the ADB-supported Nuku’alofa Urban Development Sector Project.

The King of Tonga, Tupou VI, with the Prime Minister Mr. Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa led the inauguration ceremony. ADB Deputy Director General for the Pacific Mr. James Lynch, meanwhile, spoke at the event.

The project, cofinanced by ADB and the governments of Australia and Tonga, was approved in October 2011 and is designed to improve living conditions and boost Nuku’alofa’s urban population’s access to municipal services. Delivering efficient and sustainable water supply and sanitation services in Nuku’alofa are key outputs of this project.

“Residents in the project area will now receive more reliable, 24-hour water supply service,” said Mr. Lynch. “The upgraded service will ensure that water production and water storage are more resistant to Tonga’s high incidence of natural disasters.”

With a total financing value of $16.57 million, the project targets six components of Nuku’alofa’s urban services including a strengthened policy environment for the delivery of urban services and improved water supply and solid waste services. It will also bolster community awareness of urban services such as planning and household management of solid waste, while highlighting the public health benefits of safe waste disposal.

Through the project, the country’s water production security will be improved, which will also reduce water extraction impacts and water losses in the production borefield by half.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. In 2018, it made commitments of new loans and grants amounting to $21.6 billion. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.