Hydraulic modelling assessment for the Majuro Water and Sewer Co. completed

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation has developed a hydraulic model with GIS data base and completed an assessment report analyzing and making recommendations for system improvements to the Majuro Water and Sewer Company’s water supply and distribution system on Majuro in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Funding support for this work was provided by Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs and announced by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt at the Pacific Islands Forum Partners Dialogue in August 2019.

“This collaboration between Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation and the Office of Insular Affairs, with the Majuro Sewer and Water Company, serves to improve water delivery for thousands on Majuro, the main population center and capital of the Marshall Islands,” said Interior assistant secretary, Insular and International Affairs, Douglas W. Domenech. “Interior has delivered on a promise made to the freely associated states last year by Secretary Bernhardt at the Pacific Islands Forum Partners Dialogue in Tuvalu, and testifies to the special relationship we have with the people of the Marshall Islands through the Compact of Free Association.”

Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman said the bureau is known around the world for its high-quality technical expertise. “I am pleased that through this collaboration with the Office of Insular Affairs, we are able to provide our services to the Republic of the Marshall Islands. This hydraulic model, GIS database, and report are important tools to that will assist Majuro Water and Sewer Company with determining current conditions and identifying opportunities to improve water management and delivery.”

Roxanne Cabral, the U.S. Ambassador to the Marshall Islands, said that clean and accessible water is key for healthy living and the U.S. Embassy “is proud to be a close partner of the MWSC on this and other initiatives.”

A team consisting of three civil engineers and a physical scientist from Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation have been working closely with the Majuro Water and Sewer Company to conduct an engineering assessment of the existing system and develop a hydraulic computer model and GIS database to serve as a basis for improving water systems on Majuro Atoll. The final report includes:

1. an inventory of existing water network systems (section 2);

2. a hydraulic model to facilitate the design and analysis of present and future network systems (section 3);

3. an evaluation of the adequacy of the existing distribution systems and identified deficiencies (section 4);

4. conceptual details of potential improvements to satisfy the system’s present and future needs (section 5); and

5. recommendations for system improvements and next steps (section 6).

The final report will serve as a basis for decision making to improve the water systems on Majuro Atoll. It has been submitted to the Republic of the Marshall Islands government and the Majuro Sewer and Water Company. It is also available to the public through the OIA website at: https://www.doi.gov/oia/reports.

Announced by Interior’s Bernhardt at the 2019 Pacific Islands Forum Partners Dialogue last August, this water project for Majuro in the Republic of the Marshall Islands was part of an initiative to support water security projects in the freely associated states. Work in the Federated States of Micronesia has been postponed and is still pending due to travel restrictions imposed under the coronavirus pandemic. As recently announced, bureau engineers have already completed a preliminary water assessment with the Palau Public Utilities Corp., which may be viewed on the OIA website at https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/oia-palauwatertreatmentplants-preliminaryassessment-july2020.pdf.

The Office of Insular Affairs provided $400,000 in support of this water security initiative for the freely associated states and with Reclamation, is exploring ways to expand this partnership to include all the insular areas.

For more information on the Office of Insular Affairs, visit https://www.doi.gov/oia. For more information about the Bureau of Reclamation’s work, visit https://www.usbr.gov/. (PR)