The Samoa Independent Water Schemes Association (S.I.W.S.A.) launched a pilot community project on Friday to monitor households' use of water from natural spring water sources to boost conservation. 

According to a S.I.W.S.A. media statement, the village of Aufaga on the southeast of Upolu was chosen for the project which involved the installation of water meters and meter boxes in 89 households. The village's Independent Water Scheme (I.W.S.) has a natural spring that provides fresh water for 463 people. 

S.I.W.S.A. conducted several consultations with the community to discuss the benefits of the water meters and how to read them.

Funding for the project was made possible through a partnership between the European Union and the Government of Samoa through the Civil Society Support Programme (C.S.S.P.). The funding amounts to EUR€490,000 (about SAT$1.5 million) for S.I.W.S.A., to bolster efforts to improve the capacity of communities to better manage their own water resource network. 

In a statement, the S.I.W.S.A. organisation said the use of water meters is expected to assist communities in efforts to conserve water and raise public awareness about issues such as leaking pipes and household plumbing defects. 

The choice of whether to implement usage fees falls on each community, all of which are expected to fund the ongoing operations and maintenance of their water network. 

Those taking part in the Aufaga I.W.S. were also involved in the installation of the water meters with local contractor Rockworkz Ltd. 

The Independent Water Schemes Association's Programme Manager, Clarissa Laulala said in the statement that although it has only been a few days since the water meters were installed, there are immediate changes in the Aufaga I.W.S. community's outlook towards their water supply. 

"Some households have reported their meter readings indicated there were existing leaks in their homes which they now have fixed, [which] has helped improve the water pressure they now receive," Ms Laulala said.

"One family [found that by] fixing their household internal plumbing, has helped the water reach another family who received water intermittently.

"Water is a shared responsibility and we are mindful of their usage, which was the aim of the project."

The media statement went on to confirm that S.I.W.S.A. will continue to support the community in their efforts to sustain their most valuable resource: their own spring source. 

S.I.W.S.A. says that the community-managed water meter project is worth more than $30,000.

The Independent Water Schemes Association began in 2008 to provide financial assistance to 32 independent water schemes in Samoa; its website claims the organisation services 18 per cent of Samoan households in  56 villages across the country.