A THIRSTY ATOLL NATION
Water supply in the small atoll nation of Tuvalu is strained. During normal times, this island state limits per capita water consumption by more than half: average water consumption outside of Tuvalu is 100 liters of water per day, in Tuvalu each person is limited to 40 liters per day. In times of drought, consumption is further restricted to 20 liters of water per person per day.
Water availability was further compromised in 2011, when a prolonged drought caused a water shortage severe enough to prompt the government to declare a state-wide emergency.
A NATIONAL PRIORITY
Because Tuvalu relies on rainfall for its water supply, droughts threaten the livelihoods of communities across the country and bring significant social and economic costs that weigh heavily on human lives. Families go without water and productive time is lost waiting in lines at government offices to procure this essential element. Water resource management is therefore a national priority. It is also critical to building community resilience and reducing vulnerability.
In response to these issues and this vulnerability, the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) programme is developing climate proof water management plans for the Lofeagai community.
We frequently experience water shortages in Tuvalu so the PACC support has come at a critical time to help us tackle this and address these issues on the spot. ― Mr. Mataio Tekinene, Director of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
LOCAL ACTIONS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
Before the PACC project started with 630 pepole in the village of Lofeagai, more than half the population did not have access to a minimum water supply of 40 liters during periods of extreme drought. Through the PACC project the community of Lofeagai is now improving its water infrastructure to help people cope with current and anticipated climatic changes.
The Lofeagai community installed a water cistern: the first storage capacity for this community. Now, 90% of the Lofeagai population have access to the necessary minimum water supply of 40 liters per day, even during periods of extreme drought.
THE DIFFERENCE ONE ACTION CAN MAKE
The Lofeagai water cistern is building resilience at the local level, while addressing questions of national security. It ensures water security for the community during times of need, but can also help to meet the demands of neighboring communities during extreme water shortages. In tandem, the national and local government are making sure that the cistern is properly managed and that the benefits are accessible to the people of Tuvalu who may need tap into its water reserve.
Using larger communal buildings for rainwater capture represents a new modality for collective water management. With additional PACC funding through the Australian Government, this technique is already being replicated in a second village, Tekavatoetoe on Funafuti atoll.
A WATER WISE APPROACH
Maintaining the community cistern is critical to sustaining water resource management in Tuvalu over the long term. The Lofeagai cistern has four chambers to facilitate maintenance and was strategically placed to link up with existing water catchment infrastructure. Thinking ahead, the community is already implementing improvements to the structure: a second catchment is foreseen to improve the speed and reliability of the tank to fill, and a shelter will be built to protect the structure from inclement weather.
In addition, to ensure an effective and sustainable use of the cistern, the Lofeagai Water Management Plan has been established, including a rigorous monitoring of water use and quality through installing water meters and conducting regular water quality tests. A comprehensive technical guide published on development and management of communal cisterns, drawing lessons from PACC demonstration, will help undertake similar water supply enhancements on the outer islands of Tuvalu.
Through this project, we have managed to give the people of Lofeagai a major reserve of 700,000 liters of water so they have this extra supply to fall back on in their time of need….just knowing that it is there available and ready to help is easing the burden of worry for Lofeagai. – Loia Tausi, PACC Project Coordinator
The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project (PACC) is working in 14 island countries in three key areas: food production and food security, coastal management capacity and water resources management. It’s been helping countries since 2009 to solve these problems by strengthening education and awareness and developing projects to build resilience and to reduce vulnerability to climate change.
The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility’s Special Climate Change Fund, with additional support from the Australian Government. The United Nations Development Programme is the implementing agency and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme is the implementing partner.
We did this together.We believe that this PACC activity will help improve the livelihood, we have equipped them to be able to adapt to the ever changing environmental climate. – Loia Tausi, PACC Project Coordinator
For more information on the project, please visit the PACC Tuvalu Project page. Additional information can be found at www.sprep.org/pacc/tuvalu and www.pacificclimatechange.net.
© 2026 United Nations Development Programme
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