SIWMS: A low cost and self-sustaining integrated water management system for the

Republic of Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries

Saurindra Nr. Goswami1 & Indra Raj Singh2

1
Department of Forestry, 2Department of Agriculture
College of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, Koronivia,
Fiji National University
Saurindra.goswami@fnu.ac.fj; Indra.Singh@fnu.ac.fj

ABSTRACT

The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are characterized by remoteness, limited resources
and susceptible to natural disasters. Future threats from extreme tropical cyclones, more hot
days, drought, floods, water scarcity, vector borne disease in PICs due to climate change is a
great concern. Pressure on availability of freshwater to meet domestic and industrial use
including power generation is being experienced in most of the PICs. Deforestation in the
upper catchments favoring faster surface runoff leading to siltation of rivers and frequent
denudation of towns and cities is another problem in these countries. Water supply is a key
long-term issue for most of the PICs. Insufficient knowledge on water-distribution systems,
flow and management including hydrology, hydrogeology and recharge is one of the prime
challenges for water resources management in the PICs as identified by UNEP. Fiji is one of
the fast growing PICs. Fiji has Water Supply Act, Irrigation Act, Minerals Act, Rivers &
Streams Act, The Environment Management Act, National Water Policy expressing the
crucial necessity for integrated water resources management. Need exists in the Republic of
Fiji and other PICs on developing solutions for water issues. This prompted the workers at
CAFF, FNU to propose a design for a low cost self-sustaining integrated water management
system unit called SIWMS for Fiji and other PICs. The unit will consist of rainwater
harvesting tanks, hydrams, constructed wetlands and integrated farming system. Rainwater
harvesting tanks designed for different capacities will be installed with solar powered UV
filters to meet the drinking water needs. The storm water, waste water will flow to constructed
wetlands and treated through phyto filters. The treated water will flow to integrated farming
system unit for production of fish, duck, horticulture and paddy. The phyto filters from the
wetlands will be utilized for manufacturing useful products. Specifically designed hydrams
will be installed at suitable locations to lift water for drinking, other domestic use, washing

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vehicle, irrigation and fire-fighting. This paper is an attempt by the authors to attract
entrepreneurs, contractors, developers, planners to install SIWMS in infrastructure
development at the PICs.

Key words: IWRM design, hydram, constructed wetlands, integrated farming system, Fiji.

1.0 Introduction

Limited surface area, remoteness, restricted resources, vulnerability to natural

disasters are common constraints to the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) that comprises of 25
countries and territories spread over more than 25,000 islands and islets of the western and
central Pacific Ocean.
Water management and supply is a key long-term issue for most of the PICs.
Insufficient knowledge on water-distribution systems, flow and management including
hydrology, hydrogeology and recharge is one of the prime challenges for water resources
management in the PICs (UNEP, 2012). Water management in PICs like other islands strictly
depends on managing the own water resources since transfer of water from other places is
expensive. For resource development, limitations of water resources therefore in PICs and
other islands require sustainable management approach (Tokich & Kadiman, 2009). Limited
catchment size exposes PICs to greater challenges for water resources management (Pacific
Island Forum, 2005). In most basins of PICs freshwater received through rains flows down to
the sea quickly due to inadequate forest cover and deforestation in the upper catchments. The
flowing water carries considerable quantity of soil through the rivers, perennial problem of
siltation, frequent denudation of towns and cities that hampers the economic growth of PICs.
Economies of most of the PICs surrounds around tourism (UNEP, 2012), the sector
that consumes considerable quantity of freshwater, a finite resource limited in most of these
countries. Tourism releases wastewater in resource limited environment, increases pollution
and escalates risks from vector borne diseases. Promising water management strategies in
PICs requires joint efforts between the tourism industry, local and national government
policies and regulations (UNEP, 2003).
Since smaller islets, atols are surrounded by sea groundwater withdrawals over
sustainable water yield makes the groundwater source vulnerable to sea water intrusion
(Tokich & Kadiman, 2009) thereby deteriorates the water quality (USGS, 2000).

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 Continuous migration of people to urban areas in PICs is another factor for increasing
water demand and accumulation of wastes. It exaggerates challenges for water and its
management. The changing climate with predictions on higher confidence for extreme
tropical cyclones, more number of hot days, droughts and floods further threatens availability
of fresh water resources in PICs. Severe past droughts in PICs reported to be due to the
changing climatic pattern identifies supply and management of water resources in PICs as
priority (Pacific Islands Forum, 2005).
Republic of Fiji is one of the fast growing PICs. Need exists in this country and other
PICs to develop solutions for water issues. Fiji has Water Supply Act, Irrigation Act, Minerals
Act, Rivers & Streams Act, The Environment Management Act, National Water Policy
showing gradual embedding IWRM it is sustainable development.
IWRM approaches can be initiated in PICs focusing through entry point activities and
gradually then moving for sustainable water development and management (UNEP, 2012).
Therefore designing a unit based on the principles of integrated water resources management
justifies needs in PICs.
The unit preferable should be simple, affordable, reliable, compatible, renewable and
flexible. The unit should be capable to store sufficient freshwater for users to utilize year
round, provision to treat wastewater released and for reuse of this water. The unit should
generate power and utilize any of its produce to earn additional annual income. Looking at the
above need, the authors from the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Fiji
National University proposes a low cost self-sustaining integrated water management system
unit SIWMS for the Republic of Fiji and other PICs. This paper is an attempt to attract
entrepreneurs, contractors, developers, planners to install SIWMS in infrastructure
development.
2.0 SIWMS components
The proposed Sustainable Integrated Water Management System or SIWMS consists
of four components namely, a) rainwater harvesting structures, b) hydrams, c) phytofilters
based constructed wetlands and d) integrated farming system.
2.1 Rainwater harvesting structures: Rainwater is the main source of freshwater in PICs
and other islands. Unless stored it flows off to the sea. Lack of appropriate treatment of
catchments this freshwater may not adequately recharge the aquifers hindering perennial

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availability of freshwater. Rain water harvesting is the accumulation and deposition of
rainwater for reuse on-site, rather than allowing it to runoff (Wikipedia, a). Tarawa, Kiribati
for example regulates construction of a minimum 5,000 litres rainwater harvesting tanks in
each new building. Tuvalu rainwater harvesting is the primary source of freshwater (ADB,
2006).
The reason for including rainwater harvesting structure into SIWMS since it is an
appropriate solution to supplement (GDRC, 2006) adequate water supply for the people of
PICs. Running costs, also, are almost negligible. For example 1200 mm of rain falling on 1
hectare of land equals 12 million litres of water. If we can collect about 50% of this water,
109 persons can be provided 150 litre per capita per day (lpcd) water for a whole year.
Rainwater harvesting structures can be designed based on the user needs and readily available
materials. With minimum skill the rainwater harvesting structure can be set up. Family
members have full control of their own systems, which greatly reduces operation and
maintenance problems (Tokich & Kadiman, 2009).
Rainfall ion the roofs flows through the rain gutters, through the down pipes into the
first flush unit. Dirt and other undesired materials are washed off through the first flush unit.
Once ensured that the water is relatively clean, the valve is opened to allow the rainwater to
pass to a filter chamber and then to the storage tanks through iron mesh sieves. Solar powered
ultra violet light installed at the storage tanks ensures restriction of coliforms growth. The
structures can be constructed based on the requirements (see Figure-1). For a household with
6 persons we require 328.5 kilo litres of water annually if we consider the average
consumption to be 150 lpcd. In an area that receives 1200mm of annual rainfall a house with
roof area of 300m2 is sufficient to cater the needs of that family for the whole year.
2.2 Hydraulic ram pump: For maintaining water supply we require some mechanism to
facilitate running water. For sustainability it is necessary to develop a system that does not
require any outside power to flow water from one point to another. It facilitated us to include
a component namely hydraulic ram pumps that would provide a solution of ruuning water for
the users.
Hydraulic ram pumps are commonly known as hydram. It is a water powered cyclic
water pump that utilizes a larger flow of water falling through a small hydraulic head to lift a
small flow of water through a higher hydraulic head. It uses water hammer effect to develop

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pressure. The only moving parts in a hydram are two valves, one a spring or weight loaded
waste valve and the other a delivery check valve. Hydram is beneficial for the people and
included in SIWMS since it does not require any power other than the kinetic energy of the
flowing water (Wikipedia, b) for its operation. Hydram is cheap to build, easy to maintain,
very reliable (Wikipedia, b) and long operation life. Hydram have the capability of lifting
water to a considerable height which can then be forced to move a turbine to generate power
coupled with a generator. The attachments assembly helps users to generate its own power.
The power from the turbine is given by the equation P = ρgQhav, where (h) is the
difference between the upper reservoir level (Zres) and the tail race level (Ztw)and is defined as
the available head, P is the available power, ρ is the density of water in kg m-3, Q is the flow
rate in m3 sec-1. (Nganga, 2013). The workers recommend fabrication of hydrams of different
sizes. Hydram design is based on the following formula (adopted from Lifewater
organization)
D = (S x F x E) / L,
where, D = Amount delivered in liters per 24 hours
S = Quantity of water supplied in liters per minute
F = The fall or height of the source above the ram in meters
E = The efficiency of the ram (for electricity generation we use 0.65, for
residential purposes use 0.40)
L = The lift height of the point of use above the ram in meters.
The hydram based hydroelectric generation (see Figure 2) design can be operated for
head as low as 0.5m for lifting the water to a height of 15m. The water is rushed down
through a pipe it’s end fitted with a nozzle to run a pelton wheel turbine. The turbine is fitted
to a permanent magnet DC generator. Electric adaptor is installed before the power is used.
This unit generates 4.4 kilo watt hrs day-1 taking into consideration a head of 15 m, flow of
170 litres per minute. The power generation can be increased based on the objectives and of
the user.
2.3 Phytofilter based constructed wetlands: For sustainability there should be a component
that treats the wastewater released by the users and the unit. Anticipating the need, the
workers included phytofilters based constructed wetlands in SIWMS (see Figure 3) as the
third component in the unit.

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 Constructed wetland consists of a properly-designed basin that contains water, a
substrate, and, most commonly, vascular plants constructed on a gentle sloping area.
Constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment are complex, integrated systems of water,
plants, microorganisms and the environment. In the phytofilter based constructed wetlands,
the third component of SIWMS is proposed to treat wastewater released from. Suspended
particulate matter are filtered, broken down, taken up by the phytofilters.
Usage of constructed wetlands to improve the quality of point and nonpoint sources of
water pollution, including stormwater runoff, domestic wastewater, agricultural wastewater,
and coal mine drainage is widespread. Constructed wetlands are also being used to treat
petroleum refinery wastes, compost and landfill leachates, fish pond discharges, and
pretreated industrial wastewaters, such as those from pulp and paper mills, textile mills, and
seafood processing (Davis, 2012). The phytofilters can be used to manufacture handicraft.
Revenue earned can be used for maintenance and meeting other daily requirement of the user.
2.4 Integrated Farming System: To provide SIWMS users earn additional income through
water management, the workers integrate the fourth component into SIWMS, integrated
farming system (see Figure-4). This component treats wastewater and promotes sustainable
agriculture.
Integrated farming system in SIWMS provides scope to grow quality food, feed, fibre
sustainably without polluting the system (Wikipedia, c). In SIWMS this unit takes into
account the welfare of the user by providing avenues for income generation. Plants and
animals are based on local conditions. The unit is simple, easier to adopt and utilizes the
available ecosystem. The unit consists of fish, paddy, duck and horticulture crops.
3.0 Conclusions
The proposed SIWMS (Sustainable Integrated Water Management System) provides a
way forward to address the water related issues in the Republic of Fiji and other PICs.
SIWMS is simple, sustainable, non-polluting and can be fabricated based on the needs of the
user with locally available materials. It does not require specific skills to install and assemble
SIWMS. Apart from meeting the water requirements SIWMS can help generate electricity to
meet the power requirements. SIWMS helps user earn additional income through integrated
farming systems.
** For designing site specific SIWMS and its training please contact the authors at the Fiji National
University.

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4.0 Acknowledgements
The workers sincerely acknowledge the encouragement and support provided by the
College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Fiji National University to participate and
present the idea to address water related issues through the International Conference of
Oceans and River 2014 held at Nadi from 13th to 15th October 2014.
4.0 References
Asian Development Bank, 2006. Pacific Regional Consultation on Water in Small Island
Countries. http://www.adb.org/documents/events/2002/water_small_island/meeting_
documents.asp, Assessed on 4/10/2014 at 1830 hrs.
Davis, L. 2012. A Handbook of Constructed Wetlands, USDA-Natural Resources
Conservation Service and the US Environmental Protection Agency-Region III, 53
pages.
GDRC. 2006. Urban Water Resources Managemet, Introduction to Rainwater Harvesting.
http://www.gdrc.org/uem/water/index.html, Assessed on 28/9/2014 at 1231 hrs.
Life water organisation, https://www.lifewater.org/resources/rws4/rws4d5.htm, Assessed on
4/10/2014 at 0600 hrs.
Nganga,O.B., Nyakoe, G.N., Kabecha, W. and Abungu, N.O. 2013. An experimental
prototype for low head small hydro power generation using hydram. JKUAT
Conference Paper, Nairobi, Kenya, 13 pages.
Pacific Islands Forum. 2005. Pacific Cooperation Plan - Preliminary Sector Analysis for
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, www.sopac.org/tiki/tiki-
download_file.php?fileId=417, Assessed on 28/9/2014 at 1420 hrs.
Tokich, H.S. and Kadiman, T. 2009. Water Management on Islands – Common Issues and
Possible Actions, A concept paper in preparation to the international workshop:
“Capacity Building in Water Management for Sustainable Tourism on Islands”,
Assessed on 27/9/2014 at 0730 hrs.
UNEP. 2003. A Manual for Water and Waste Management: What the Tourism Industry Can
Do to Improve its Performance, http://www.uneptie.o rg/pc/tourism/documents/
waste%20 manual / Part1.pdf, Assessed on 29/9/2013 at 2130 hrs.
UNEP, 2012. Integrated Water Resources Management Planning Approach for Small Island
Developing States. UNEP, 130 + xii pp

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USGS. 2000. Is Sea Water Intrusion Affecting Ground Water on Lopez Island, Washington?
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs-057-00/pdf/fs05700.pdf, Assessed on 2/10/2014 at
0745 hrs.
Wikipedia, a. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainwater_harvesting. Assessed on 3/10/2014 at
1232 hrs.
Wikipedia, b. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_ram. Assessed on 3/10/2014 at 1232
hrs.
Wikipedia, c. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_farming. Assessed on 3/10/2014 at 1900
hrs.

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 Figure-1: SIWMS (Component 1) - rain water harvesting structure for a household

20m Overhead tank

15m

Valve
Water use
UV filters UV filters

RWHT (3mx7mx8m) RWHT (3mx7mx8m)

3 -1
Hydram Size 4” x 2”; Head ratio 5; Delivery 94 m day
2
Water availability 300m /(3229.17sq. ft) = 360000 l
(taking into account 1200mm of rains)
Water required per person per year = 328500 l
(taking avg. 6 person/household and water consumption is 150lpcd)

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 Figure-2: SIWMS (Component 2) – hydram to generate microhydroelectricity at the proposed CAFF campus at Calia,
Unifarm Navua

Storage tank

Calia stream flow

Electric Generator Electric adapter

Nozzle
Supply head Waste water

Pelton Turbine

Electricity
Supply head

Waste water for irrigation

3 -1
Hydram Size 6” x 3”; Head ratio 5; Delivery 216 m day

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Figure-3: SIWMS (Component 3) – phytofilter based constructed wetlands

Phytofilters

Phytofilters
Overhead Flood water, untreated water
storage
and use

Phytofilters
Heavy particles devoid water

Outlet
Treated water to be used

Outlet
Release treated water

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 Figure-4: SIWMS (Component 4) – Integrated Farming System

Phytofilters

Phytofilters
Overhead
storage Flood water, untreated water
and use

Phytofilters
Heavy particles devoid water

Treated water to be used

Outlet

Duck-aquahortisilvicultural system

Release treated water

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