ALM UNDP

Summary:

With the exception of the water supply servicing Koror and Airai States, water supply systems in Palau are operated and maintained by the state government. The water supply to Airai and Koror is operated and maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD) and supplies water to approximately 64% of Palau's population. Based on 2005 census data, the population of Palau is growing annually at about 1.4%. However, the proportion of the population living in the Koror-Airai urban area has declined from 71% in 1995 to 64% in 2005. The decline in the proportion of the population living in the Koror-Airai urban area may be attributed to the construction of the Compact Road which has allowed customary landowners in Babeldaob improved access to their land thereby facilitating agriculture and other economic developments. With the opening of the Compact Road, demand for residential and agricultural lots on Babeldaob, particularly in Aimeliik State, is increasing. Limited secure water supply is constraining development in Babeldaob and there is a need to develop new water sources and expand the water supply networks on Babeldaob.

The proposed project intends to improve the security of supply for treated water to communities in Babeldaob and Koror, and to enable the expansion of the Koror-Airai water supply network to Aimeliik. The outcome will be sustainable management of the national water supply system and improved reliability and security of the water supply to Koror.