Sanitation is a fundamental human right, yet millions of people across the world still live without access to basic and safe facilities. This problem is particularly acute in the Pacific, where many residents, especially those living in informal urban settlements, lack adequate toilets and sanitation systems. The situation is further aggravated by climate change, which brings increasingly frequent and severe environmental hazards. These hazards, including flooding, sea-level rise, and tropical storms, damage sanitation infrastructure, rendering already fragile systems dysfunctional and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. This article will explore the issue of inadequate sanitation in the Pacific, focusing on the challenges faced by countries like Fiji and Vanuatu, and discuss how climate change exacerbates these challenges.
Current Sanitation Landscape in the Pacific
Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services is a key component of public health and environmental protection, and improving these services is one of the central goals of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). However, progress in the Pacific region has been slow, especially in urban informal settlements. The Melanesian region, including countries like Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, has some of the lowest sanitation coverage rates globally. A significant portion of the population in this region resides in underserved or informal urban areas, where infrastructure is either inadequate or non-existent.
According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF’s Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), which tracks global WASH data, the Pacific region faces the slowest rate of improvement in sanitation services compared to any other region. In countries like Fiji and Vanuatu, informal urban settlements are characterized by a lack of access to basic services, legal land tenure, and infrastructure. In these areas, residents often rely on rudimentary sanitation systems such as dry pit latrines, which are not only unsanitary but also unable to withstand environmental hazards like flooding or heavy rain.
In a recent study conducted in Suva, Fiji, and Port Vila, Vanuatu, over 390 households were surveyed to better understand the sanitation systems in place, residents' preferences, and the impacts of climate-driven hazards on sanitation infrastructure. The results showed a high reliance on water-based pit latrines, septic tanks, and dry pits. In Suva, most households used water-based pit latrines with slabs, while in Port Vila, dry pit latrines were more common. These findings highlight the disparities in sanitation infrastructure between countries, as well as the persistent use of unimproved sanitation systems, particularly in Port Vila.
Challenges of Inadequate Sanitation
The use of unimproved sanitation systems poses significant public health risks. Poorly maintained toilets, lack of faecal sludge management, and the sharing of toilets between multiple households can lead to the spread of diseases, including diarrheal diseases, which are a leading cause of death among children under five years old. In informal urban settlements, where the population density is high, these risks are magnified. Sanitation systems in these areas are not only unhygienic but often become breeding grounds for disease-carrying insects, such as mosquitoes and flies.
The lack of access to improved sanitation also has gendered implications. Women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by inadequate sanitation, face significant challenges in maintaining their health, hygiene, and dignity. In communities where toilets are shared or not available, women are forced to find alternative, often unsafe, places to relieve themselves, which increases the risk of harassment and violence. Moreover, during menstruation, the absence of clean and private facilities further complicates the ability of women and girls to manage their menstrual hygiene with dignity.
Aside from public health concerns, inadequate sanitation infrastructure creates environmental hazards. In areas where faecal sludge is not safely managed, untreated human waste can contaminate local water sources, including rivers, lakes, and groundwater. This poses a direct threat to drinking water safety and exacerbates environmental pollution. In the Pacific, where many communities rely on rainwater or groundwater for drinking water, this contamination poses a severe threat to the overall health of the population.
The Impact of Climate Change on Sanitation
Climate change is one of the most significant threats to sanitation systems in the Pacific region. As global temperatures rise, so too do the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. In countries like Fiji and Vanuatu, tropical cyclones, heavy rainfall, and rising sea levels are common occurrences that severely damage sanitation infrastructure. In Port Vila, one in three respondents from the household surveys reported that their sanitation services had been impacted by a climate-driven hazard.
Flooding, for example, is a major issue in many Pacific islands. When heavy rains occur, pit latrines and septic tanks can overflow, spreading untreated waste into the surrounding environment. This not only makes sanitation systems unusable but also increases the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera and dysentery. In coastal areas, rising sea levels can lead to saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies, further complicating efforts to maintain clean water and sanitation services. The close proximity of many informal settlements to coastlines makes them especially vulnerable to these effects.
Moreover, the materials used in constructing sanitation systems in informal settlements are often not designed to withstand severe weather conditions. Many of these systems are made from low-quality materials that are easily damaged by strong winds or heavy rains, leaving communities without functional toilets after a storm. In Port Vila, for example, cyclones were the most commonly reported hazard affecting sanitation systems, with some households reporting that their toilets were rendered unusable due to major damage.
The economic impact of climate change on sanitation cannot be overlooked either. In countries where resources are already limited, the cost of rebuilding or repairing damaged sanitation infrastructure places an additional burden on governments and households. Without adequate financial support, these communities struggle to recover from disasters, perpetuating a cycle of vulnerability and poverty.
Pathways to Resilient Sanitation
To address the challenges of inadequate sanitation and the impact of climate change, there is a need for resilient, climate-adaptive sanitation solutions. The focus should not only be on improving access to toilets but also on ensuring that sanitation systems are durable, sustainable, and capable of withstanding extreme weather events.
One potential solution is the implementation of decentralized wastewater treatment systems. These systems, which include technologies like biogas digesters, constructed wetlands, and composting toilets, are more adaptable to the unique conditions of informal settlements and are less vulnerable to environmental hazards. Decentralized systems are particularly suitable for areas where centralized sewer systems are either unavailable or impractical. In countries like Vanuatu, where there is no centralized sewer system, decentralized solutions could provide a sustainable alternative to the current reliance on unimproved pit latrines.
Another critical aspect of building resilience is community involvement and education. In many cases, residents of informal settlements lack the knowledge or resources to properly maintain their sanitation systems. This leads to a cycle of system failure and environmental contamination. By involving communities in the planning, implementation, and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure, governments and organizations can ensure that these systems are better managed and more sustainable in the long term. Educational programs that teach residents how to maintain their toilets and manage faecal sludge can significantly improve the functionality of sanitation systems and reduce the public health risks associated with improper waste management.
Finally, it is essential to integrate climate change adaptation into sanitation planning at both the local and national levels. Governments in the Pacific region need to prioritize investments in sanitation infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of climate change. This includes upgrading existing systems to be more resilient to flooding, cyclones, and sea-level rise. International donors and development agencies also have a crucial role to play by providing financial and technical support to Pacific nations as they work to meet the challenges of climate change and improve access to sanitation.
Conclusion
Access to adequate sanitation in the Pacific is a complex issue that is further compounded by the impacts of climate change. For many people living in informal urban settlements, particularly in countries like Fiji and Vanuatu, the lack of proper toilets and sanitation infrastructure poses serious public health and environmental risks. Climate change has made these challenges even more urgent by increasing the frequency and severity of environmental hazards that damage already fragile sanitation systems.
Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach that includes investing in resilient, decentralized sanitation systems, involving communities in the management of these systems, and integrating climate change adaptation into national sanitation policies. With proper planning, investment, and community engagement, it is possible to improve access to sanitation in the Pacific and build more resilient systems that can withstand the effects of climate change.
The path forward is clear: improving sanitation in the Pacific must be a priority for governments, international organizations, and communities alike. The stakes are too high to ignore, as inadequate sanitation continues to threaten public health, environmental sustainability, and the region's ability to adapt to the ever-growing threat of climate change.
More information: B. Z. Rousso et al, A multi-country survey on sanitation systems in underserved urban settlements in the Melanesian Pacific region, npj Clean Water (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41545-024-00377-8
English (United States) ·