Providing safe and reliable water services to the public requires water utilities and natural resource management agencies to secure long-term access to land for water resources and water assets.

The ADB Pacific WASH Technical Assistance and Pacific Water and Wastewater Association

hosted the third Pacific WASH Webinar for 2024 in late June on the issues around water and land access in the Pacific. Attendees heard from Chuuk Public Utility Corporation CEO Kembo Mida Jr. and Solomon Water National Catchment Officer Robert Iromalefo on the innovative legal and social approaches they have adopted to partner with landowners to secure access to water resources and water assets in the Pacific.

Of particular interest was Chuuk Public Utility Corporation’s innovative legal framework to offer landowners shareholding via a Benefit-Share model. Likewise, the introduction of a payment for ecosystems services scheme by Solomon Water to protect watersheds and preserve water source quality raised relevant questions on its current implementation.