Samoa Independent Water Schemes Association (IWSA) received two prestigious awards at the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) annual conference held in Palau early this month.

The awards, best technical performance and best coverage in the small Pacific water utilities category, which serves as a testament to IWSA's dedication and commitment to providing high-quality water services in Samoa.

The awards were presented based on benchmarking performance data collected by the PWWA through the tools and instruments of the International Benchmarking of Water and Sanitation Utilities of the World Bank (IBNET).

The PWWA is a highly respected organisation that consists of 31 water utility members from 21 countries across the Pacific.

Their mission is to be the principal voice for water and wastewater management in the Pacific Island nations, fostering expertise in the sustainable management of these essential services and promoting the development of a cohesive, proficient, and robust water and wastewater sector within the region. 

IWSA's recognition at the PWWA conference reflects its achievements and contributions to the Pacific water and wastewater sector. 

The President of IWSA Asi Sasa Milo said they were honoured to be rewarded with the two prestigious awards.

“We are deeply honoured and humbled to receive these prestigious awards from the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association,” he said.

“They stand as a testament to the unwavering dedication and expertise of our team and partners, reaffirming our commitment to enhancing water services for the people of Samoa.” 

IWSA said in a statement that they take great pride in representing Samoa among its peers in the Pacific water utilities sector. These awards further motivate IWSA to continue to contribute to Samoa’s National Plan – Pathway for the Development of Samoa (PDS, FY2021/22 – FY2025/26.) as well as the development of the Pacific water and wastewater sector.

The Samoa IWSA is an independent water schemes association established back in 2006 and formally registered as an incorporated society in 2008. It gained legal recognition as an entity under the Water Schemes Act of 2015.

Its vision is to provide clean, safe, and affordable water at all times, while its mission is to support the development of community-managed water schemes in Samoa through partnerships with government and non-government stakeholders.

The Association is one of the two implementing agencies responsible for the Water Supply sub-sector within the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene sector of Samoa. According to Samoa's 2021 national census data, IWSA serves a population of 23,800 people.