Expression of Interest For Groundwater Management & Wastewater Discharge Water Quality Monitoring in Kiribati

Work Detail

Expression of Interest are invited for Groundwater Management & Wastewater Discharge Water Quality Monitoring Description: Groundwater Management & Wastewater Discharge Water Quality MonitoringBackground: In the Pacific, particularly in low-lying atoll nations like Kiribati, groundwater is a crucial source of drinking water. These fragile aquifers face significant threats from salinization, pollution, and over-extraction. Monitoring and management are limited due to weak regulatory frameworks and fragmented data systems, which hinder the ability of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to safeguard water quality and maintain critical coastal ecosystems such as reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.Challenges: Poorly managed groundwater discharge allows land-based contaminants to reach the ocean, threatening biodiversity and fisheries. Wastewater pollution, driven by inadequate sanitation infrastructure, introduces pathogens and nutrients into groundwater and coastal waters, harming public health, food security, and lagoon ecosystems. In South Tarawa and Kiritimati, thin freshwater lenses are under pressure from unregulated use and fecal contamination, with over 70% of low-income households lacking basic sanitation.Project Objectives: The project aims to address these challenges by advancing a regional Water Quality Management initiative for Healthy Blue Carbon Ecosystems and Coastal Resilience. Key features include identifying pollution hotspots, establishing baselines, combining in-situ monitoring with Earth Observation satellite data, and supporting planning for groundwater protection and coastal ecosystem management.Core Components:Data Integration: Consolidation of groundwater and water quality datasets into a centralized database, including baseline assessment and data identification gaps.In-situ Monitoring: Real-time tracking of water quality through deployed sensors and field sampling.Earth Observation Platform: Integration of satellite and field data to support visualization, forecasting, and early warning.Pollution Mapping: Development of risk-based tools to guide communication and prioritize interventions.The project also strengthens coordination between water and wastewater sectors and builds capacity in institutions like the Water Quality Committee to support data-driven policymaking. Tender Link : https://wbgeprocure-rfxnow.worldbank.org/rfxnow/public/advertisement/6383/view.html

Contact Information