Solosolo village has celebrated the launching of its new ecological purification system (E.P.S.) for water with women and children the main beneficiaries.

The E.P.S. was built within the Solosolo Primary School compound according to a joint statement released by the Samoa Government and the European Union Delegation.

Commissioning of the E.P.S. will enable water access to a population of 1,851 with women and children making up 42 per cent of the village’s population.

Independent Water Schemes Association (IWSA) President, Sulutumu Taiatu Sasa Milo, said in a statement that the EPS does not need to run on electricity and requires minimal maintenance and the purification system is environmentally friendly. 

“On behalf of the association I would like to once again thank the European Union for another life-changing and sustainable water treatment initiative for our communities,” Sulutumu said. 

The EU Delegation Lead Coordinator (Water, Sanitation and Health Initiatives), Luis de Torres, said the E.P.S. water purification system will increase the purity and safety of citizens’ drinking water. 

“In addition, water filtration will also benefit the environment by cutting down pollution, waste generation and resource use,” he said in a statement. 

“The European Union is pleased to have collaborated once again with the Samoan Government and SIWSA to enhance access to safe drinking water.”

The system takes advantage of a natural occurring phenomenon which is the growth and decomposition of algae. The purification process reduces the concentration of contaminants like suspended particles, parasites, bacteria, algae, viruses, and fungi and uses natural water pressure as well as gravity-fed supply to see the elimination of the use of electricity in the above process.

Last year the IWSA managed to complete 10 other water projects that saw the instalments of ultra-violet kiosks in convenient locations allowing access to safe ultraviolet treated water for the people of Samoa.

The IWSA EU-funded project has served an increasing number of people in our communities within Samoa. This complies with the Samoa 2016 National Drinking Water Standards and has benefited 6,704 people from the SIWSA initiatives under the project called "Support to improve the capacity of communities to better manage water resources"