Efforts to improve the safety and quality of water provided through the Samoa Independent Water Scheme Association (S.I.W.S.A.) has been boosted with a European Union (E.U.) funding assistance of €490,000 ($1,485,000 tala).

The financial support was announced in a joint statement issued recently by the EU and the Samoa Government, which emphasised their continued efforts to improve safety, quality and management of water resources and plan, and to build a resilient and sustainable water supply for 34 water schemes which are S.I.W.S.A. operated.

The Head of Cooperation at the E.U. Delegation in Fiji, Christoph Wagner, said their support for S.I.W.S.A. will guarantee the quality of water in villages.

“Access to clean drinking water is indispensable for leading a life in human dignity and a basic human right. Supporting S.I.W.S.A. and the implementation of Water Safety Plans will guarantee water quality in the communities, protecting all, and in particular children, of waterborne hazards,” he said in a statement.

S.I.W.S.A. Program Manager, Clarissa Laulala, thanked the EU for its support to promote quality water supply to the affected villages.

“On behalf of the S.I.W.S.A. Board and members, I wish to thank the European Union for their continuous support towards communities managing their own water supply network. Meeting the challenge of supplying quality water to national guidelines is cost prohibitive; hence this initiative by the SIWSA supported by the E.U.,” she added.

The impacted villages will have greater awareness of the value of their water resources, following the development and implementation of the S.I.W.S.A. Drinking Water Safety and Management Plan.

“The development and implementation of the Drinking Water Safety & Management plans will enable communities to have a greater awareness of the value of their water resources, with the Village Water Committees playing a critical role in sensitizing the communities to the limited nature of the resource and how best to manage it equitably.”

It is hoped that the support of the EU will also promote innovation and creativity in the S.I.W.S.A. to complete the project successfully with the E.U. expressing hope that the Association will be successful in their mission to provide accessible, affordable, clean and safe water for the community and independent water schemes.