Final evaluation, operational program grant USAID 879-0251-G[-]SS-1005-00 : Ha'apai water supply project, Kingdom of Tonga, June 30, 1981-August 31, 1986

Final external evaluation covers the period 6/81-8/86 and is based on site visits. Despite certain shortcomings in project design and implementation, fresh water supplies on Ha'Apai have been increased by approximately 1.5 million gallons (at a cost of about $0.25 per gallon), with concomitant improvements in health and sanitation. In all, the project constructed and repaired 786 water tanks and one groundwater pumping system, directly benefiting some 5,600 people in 22 villages on 16 islands. The tanks have been plagued with maintenance problems, however. A drought following Cyclone Isaac in 1982 forced project management to speed up implementation, in part by using quickly erectable zincalume tanks, rather than ferrocement tanks as planned. These tanks, which were built by a crew from the Ministry of Works under the supervision of PCV's, soon developed leaks at the seams and in the bottom, due to shoddy workmanship and damage from pigs, which in some cases would use the tank site as a wallow. In 1984, a large number of these tanks were found to be leaking. As a result, construction of ferrocement tanks was begun in cooperation with the Niuola Women in Development Organization. However, of 477 ferrocement tanks built, 52% were found to be leaking in 1986, due again to shoddy workmanship - the tanks were built by villagers themselves, often without adequate supervision. Also, although the level of community participation was high, homeowners too often lacked the training needed to keep the system operational, and critical maintenance (e.g., clearing gutters, keeping tanks covered) was not performed; as a result, the tanks either leaked, were not filled to capacity, or became contaminated with debris and mosquito larvae. The project was extended to 8/86 to correct these problems, but the extension period fell 70% short of its target for tank repair, 30% short for guttering repair, and 100% short for water tap installation; a target to provide tank covers and mosquito screens was partially achieved. The project demonstrated that both community and household tanks have a place in the outer islands and that round ferrocement tanks are indubitably the best choice for rural household water storage. Also, (1) project management should work closely with engineers to design a tank that is easy to build and will not leak; and (2) beneficiaries should be told what is expected of them in terms of upkeep before the tanks are built, and should receive maintenance training, and possibly a maintenance incentive (e.g., requiring a cash contribution from recipients toward the cost of the tank construction).