The Marshall Islands is gaining momentum toward the establishment of a National Water Safety Plan following a half-day seminar on water safety at the Marshall Islands Resort last Thursday.
The seminar invited government officials, members from the private sector and State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) that sell and provide water to the community.
The program was facilitated by the Environmental Protection Authority and Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA) Project.
Presently, Kwajalein Atoll Joint Utility (KAJUR) and Majuro Water Sewer Company (MWSC) have existing water safety plans. The plans, however, are not recognized by the average worker, commented a facilitator.
Malolo Malolo from Ebeye EPA, Disaster Control Officer from the Ebeye National Disaster Management Office Wesley Lemari and Johnson Eknilang, Supervisor for the Reverse Osmosis unit on Ebeye, expressed gratitude for learning new skills in the workshop.
Johnson said he’s been monitoring the RO unit on Ebeye at the water plant since 2019 and the terminology used and methods of cleaning water shared in the group discussions are new to him.
Wesley shared that he’s been in similar trainings in the past and was glad for the refresher course. Malolo said his EPA officials have been jointly testing water quality at the Ebeye water plant in the past and will continue to do so in the future.