Freshwater accessibility and challenges in rural areas of Fiji : a case study of Kalabu Village = Os desafios da acessibilidade à água doce nas áreas rurais das Fiji : o caso de estudo da aldeia de Kalabu

Abstract

Water is a key driver of economic and social development while it also has a basic function in maintaining the integrity of the natural environment. Due to its small sizes and locations of islands, many remote and rural communities in the Fiji Islands have barriers in accessing freshwater. The challenges of freshwater accessibility are not only present in small remote islands but in the two main islands of Fiji as well. Supply side solutions alone are not adequate to address the ever increasing demands from demographic, economic and climatic pressures that directly affect freshwater accessibility. Since water is a vital resource, it is important to find solutions to remove obstacles to its access. Thereby, it is imperative that accessibility issues to freshwater are not considered in isolation when you have to come to a meaningful solution to face the current challenge that will contribute to a sustainable future.