Page 32 - IB March 2021

Water

MASKELL PRODUCTIONS SERVING THE PACIFIC REGION decisions about water use within households . Their per-
THE PERFECT PARTNERSHIP sonal health and safety also depends on WASH access. A 2017

Australian government-funded research paper on menstrual
hygiene management, The Last Taboo, found that in Solomon
Maskell Productions is proud Islands and Papua New Guinea, WASH facilities in schools and
to supply the Pacific region workplaces are commonly inadequate to meet the needs of
with fibreglass (FRP/GRP) menstruating girls and women.
“Challenges include non-functioning toilets and showers,
products perfect for the local unclean and poorly maintained facilities lacking in privacy,
environment. lack of toilet paper, lack of safe disposal options for used sani-

THE RANGE INCLUDES: tary items, and a lack of soap and water for handwashing and
ENVIROTANK DOUBLE WALL personal hygiene, including washing of re-usable materials,
FIBREGLASS, UNDERGROUND FUEL where relevant… When WASH facilities are inadequate some
STORAGE TANKS. girls and women prefer to return home to change used mate-
Safe, strong, environmentally friendly fuel storage rials, contributing to absenteeism from school and work.”
with reduced evaporation, safe from cyclone and
storms and suitable for post-disaster use. After nearly “Water-proofing water solutions”
300,000 installations worldwide, not a single leak The SPC says all Pacific Island governments are making
has ever been attributed to tank corrosion. Easy to improvements in the sector. For example, Kiribati is one of
install, cost-effective with 25 years proven service in only 16 countries globally that has reduced open defecation Auki opening ceremony for the Auki Water Supply Improvement Project with Solomon Beverly Mawhinney, a local staff in Honiara, Solomon Islands
Islands Water Authority and the Asian Development Bank
the Pacific. by more than 20% since 2020.
However, those improvements have not kept pace with BUILDING COMMUNITIES:
ENVIROTANK UNDERGROUND TANKS
AND PUMP STATIONS FOR WATER, population growth, population movement and the challenges
WASTEWATER STORAGE AND posed by climate change. Providing safe and sanitary water supply in the Pacific
RETICULATION. The absence of critical data for decision-making, as in so
many aspects of Pacific islands policy making, is another big Providing basic access to safe water and Providing safe and sanitary water supply Building communities
Safe for the environment where longevity and the challenge. Hebblethwaite say some of the most basic data is services is essential in achieving sustainable for communities Reeves Envico is committed to sustainability
prevention of any sort of ground contamination is of not being collected, in terms of rainfall and river flow, and and inclusive growth in the Pacific region. Through our water specialist team, we have and social inclusion so that we not only
the utmost importance. However, access to improved sanitation is contributed to the provision of water sanitation construct quality assets of long-term value but
that communities need the confidence that when they do col- uneven in the region. According to UNICEF, and hygiene in the Pacific region. We have help build better lives. We pride ourselves on
MASKELL FLOWTITE PIPE IS A GLASS lect this data and maintain equipment, it will actually make a countries such as Kiribati, Solomon Islands undertaken meaningful projects, including a working with local contractors, communities,
and Vanuatu are hosting 81 per cent of the
REINFORCED PLASTIC PIPE SUITABLE difference. population without access. [1] Sewage Treatment Plant in Pohnpei (FSM), and all levels of government in the design and
FOR WATER AND HYDROPOWER “Banaba doesn’t have a rain gauge at the moment, and the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Chuuk (FSM) delivery of construction works.
PROJECTS. nearest one to that is supposed to be Nauru, and the Nauru We recognise the importance of providing and Colombo (Sri Lanka), Water Supply and Our projects involve the community as a
one is not operating at the moment. So that’s hundreds of ki- safe and sanitary water supply for communities Sanitation Project in Ebeye (Marshall Islands), partner at every step. We ensure that for every
Light-weight with proven resistance to acidic environments, the pipes require no maintenance and are corrosion- lometres in the Pacific where you’re not collecting basic data. throughout the Pacific. This is why we have Bulk Water Transmission Pipeline from East project, we are able to manage the impact of
free. Flowtite is the environmentally friendly, perfect choice for underground hydropower penstocks providing Then in the places where the data is collected, connecting it actively pursued water and waste-water Kola to Tasahe (Solomon Islands), Sanitation our construction work on local communities
safety from Pacific cyclones, storms and from vandalism. treatment projects in the region, funded by Improvement Program in Tarawa (Kiribati).
to an agreed, drought planning mechanism, having triggers agencies such as the Asian Development Bank. and their day-to-day activities. At the same
Our latest water project officially opened in
- Environmentally Friendly - Corrosion-Resistant - 40 Years Proven Safe and Reliable that can trigger action, there’s certainly activity on that, Reeves Envico is a group of specialist 2020, the Auki Water Supply Improvement time, we prioritise social impact and maximise
community benefits – creating outcomes that
countries are doing work, but there needs to be a lot more infrastructure contractors with over 30 years’ Project in Solomon Islands. As the capital support local communities and deliver lasting
support in the region.” experience throughout Australia and the of the Malaita province, Auki has witnessed benefits.
“The Pacific is leading the world in some respects by pulling Asia Pacific region. We deliver civil works population growth and deficiencies in the Reeves Envico prioritises economic and
together its climate change adaptation and its disaster risk infrastructure and construction management existing water assets. Because of this, the women empowerment, ensuring that training
reduction efforts through the Pacific Resilience Partnership. in sectors such as water and sewerage, Solomon Islands Water Authority (SIWA) and employment programs are in place for
commercial,
conceived the Auki Water Supply Improvement
works,
public
environment,
• Corrosion • Environmental That’s quite a unique experience in the world in trying to heritage, and residential. Project to secure and safe water supply for women in each of our projects. We have also
• Engineers • Fabricators bring those communities together but there is so much more future demand. Through this project, Reeves hired graduate students in our sites, tapping
that can be done to waterproof the discussion. There’s more We have successfully completed over 150 Envico was able to supply and construct a 1 ML into local talents and providing opportunities for
major projects in Australia and throughout students to build a career in infrastructure.
than water and sanitation at play. There’s education and the Asia Pacific, predominantly working water tank, interconnecting transfer lines and
awareness processes that needs to happen.” with Water Authorities, Federal, State and pump stations on Auki and contributing to water We are committed in continually building
safety and hygiene for its over 7,000-strong
Local Government, Multilateral Banks, and population. communities throughout the Pacific region,
enabling basic access to water sanitation
COVID complications Government Departments of overseas and hygiene while supporting inclusive and
www.maskell.co.nz • www.flowtite.co.nz • www.envirotank.co.nz At the start of the pandemic, UN agencies and our national countries. economic growth in the community.
governments focused on how we could reduce transmission
MASKELL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED through handwashing, other hygiene practices and social
24 Bowden Road, Mt. Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand distancing. In communities without good access to fresh and Source: [1] https://www.unicef.org/pacificislands/what-we-do/water-sanitation-hygiene
Phone: +64-9-573-0548 safe water, there was a focus on using tippy-taps and similar If you would like to know more and work with Reeves Envico – whether as an
Continued on page 35 industry partner or on-site please feel free to get in touch at www.reevesenvico.com
32 Islands Business, March 2021