Aitutaki is prone to water shortages given that it is reliant on rainwater for its potable water supply and the non-potable water supply which is sourced from groundwater infiltration water galleries.

Of the nine water galleries in Aitutaki, Te Tango Angaanga o te Kuki Airani/Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) has completed installing eight of the new solar water pumps to the respective galleries.

“All these water galleries are running and operating well and are being monitored daily both remotely and manually,” said ICI’s national water scarcity coordinator, Joseph Akaruru.

He anticipates that the remaining new pump for the last water gallery will be installed in March.

“This will be done after some upgrade work is done to the gallery well, otherwise this water gallery is still operating on the old pumping system,” Akaruru said.

Challenges during the installation of the pumps has been shipping delays in the delivery of the water pumps from Australia to Aitutaki. 

Akaruru said the pumps were initially scheduled to arrive in September 2024, but finally arrived in early November 2024.

Another trial included determining the right balance of water to pump to ensure that supply is adequate. This will be ongoing as the Aitutaki Water Services (AWS) continue to monitor the systems and the needs of the community.

Technicians install the new Aitutaki Water Services monitoring system. ICI/25020745

“Learning how the new pumping systems operate has been interesting,” said Akaruru, “as well as about the ongoing maintenance work required to keep the pumps operating at optimal level.”

“An important point to note is that the pumps also utilise solar energy and installing these systems has been interesting for the team.”

The Pukoe water gallery located right on the border between the Amuri and Vaipeka villages had not been operating for the past five to six years.

Akaruru was pleased to confirm that Pukoe is now back on line and operational again. There was much work involved in getting Pukoe up and running. 

ICI has upgraded the water pump house and the two 45,000 litres header storage water tanks uphill, replaced the water pipeline from the water pump house to the header tanks with a new one, and replaced the water pipelines from the header tanks to the water main pipeline. A new solar water pump was also installed.

For years, the Aitutaki Water Services staff were working out of a shipping container. To help maintain the water services, ICI is building a new office building in the Aratea, Arutanga area. The construction of the new office will be completed by mid-March.

This building project is estimated to cost $155,000 funded by the Cook Islands Government and is a collaborative effort between the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) and ICI.

Infrastructure currently employs eight staff for the AWS in Aitutaki.

In July 2024, the AWS division was transferred to ICI. Over the next three years, ICI will carry out the estimated $7.3 million Climate Resilient Aitutaki Water Supply project designed to strengthen the water supply management, see the existing water resources maximised, and develop water infrastructure to withstand the impacts of climate change.