In the heart of the Pacific Ocean, Tuvalu faces a growing crisis: the scarcity of fresh water. This small island nation, already grappling with the devastating effects of climate change, now contends with a dwindling supply of potable water that endangers public health, food security, and the overall well-being of its people. In 2022, the average lifespan of Tuvaluans was 65, well below the global average of 72 – and that figure could drop as extreme weather events become more frequent and the impacts of water scarcity and contamination worsen.
The recent approval of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s Funafuti Water Supply and Sanitation Project on September 12 marked a critical step toward addressing Tuvalu’s water needs. However, while the project in the Tuvaluan capital represents significant progress in providing access to potable water, further efforts are required to ensure that residents of Tuvalu’s outer islands also have reliable access to fresh drinking water.
Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is composed of nine islands nestled in the South Pacific. With a population of about 11,200, it ranks as the fourth smallest country globally in terms of land mass, surpassing only Vatican City, Monaco, and Nauru. The low-lying coral nation’s highest point above sea level is 4.5 meters or 15 feet and thus Tuvalu is predicted to be one of the first countries to disappear due to the rising sea level.
Funafuti, the capital, houses about half of the country’s population, while the other half resides on the outer islands of Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niulakita, Niutao, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Nui, and Vaitupu. As the impacts of climate change worsen, Tuvalu, a least developed country according to the United Nations, will see an intensification in the struggle for water security.
Weather patterns are changing, leaving extreme weather events to happen more often. Generally, Tuvalu’s dry season is from May to October and its wet season is from November to April but this can vary. El Niño and La Niña strongly affect Pacific Island nations, with the former causing heavy rainfall and tropical cyclones and the latter forcing less rain to fall in countries close to the equator such as Tuvalu.
In December 2023, flights to and from Tuvalu were canceled due to heavy rains damaging the runway to Funafuti National Airport. Conversely, in July 2023, a state of emergency was almost declared due to a drought. During this period, the National Disaster Management Office placed water tanks around the country and each family was allowed to take six buckets of water per day.
Tuvaluans rely on rainwater for their daily use, such as drinking and bathing. Furthermore, rainwater is used for livestock farming, which is a key source of ensuring food security. During times of drought, family members are forced to shift to other households with sufficient water supply. The extreme fluctuations between overabundance and lack of water have caused considerable obstacles for Tuvaluans to overcome.
A rainwater harvesting tank on a convenience store in Tuvalu’s main island of Funafuti. Photo by John Augé.
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