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Drilling for Clean Water in Tonga
The B-Envelope project is working closely with the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources (MLSNR)
to drill six boreholes on Tongatapu. A contract was signed with NEEDS Engineering Ltd for approximately
TOP120,000. Work has just been completed in drilling the first borehole near the international airport that was
at a depth of 55 meters with other sites to follow.
The borehole at Fu’amotu will be drilled to a depth of 65 meters
while the three boreholes at Mata’kieua wellfield will be at a
dept of 24 – 35 meters. The boreholes will be used by MLSNR to
monitor water quality. This is very important as the water piped
through the reticulated supply to households in Nukua’lofa and
in most villages on Tongatapu is sourced from the underground
water lens. The data collected through monitoring the water
quality including salinity is essential for good management of the
water supply. The MLSNR visit all boreholes on a regular basis to
collect samples for testing in their laboratory.
The project has also completed upgrading the infrastructure at
the Mataki’eua wellfield with construction of new wellsheds,
supply of electric submersible pumps and supply of rainwater
catchments to the outer islands. We are also working with
the Tonga Community Development Trust to raise awareness
concerning water issues with the outer island communities. This
will promote good conservation and management practices so
that they have clean water and to use it wisely. The assistance
by the European to Tonga is around Euro 1.1 million addressing
water security.
Borehole samples collected.
Borehole drilling at Fu'amotu.