Accessing water in ATS settlement,
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Michelle Rooney
PhD Candidate, Australian National
University
Presentation outline
• Research background (Fieldwork,
Methodology, Summary of data)
• Emerging issues
• Challenges of water access
– Supply/provision of water
– Demand for water
Urbanisation and informal settlements in PNG
2010/2011 census
• Population of PNG is 7.2
million
• Population growth rate is
3.1% pa
• NCD population is over
360,000 people and is
growing at a rate of 3.3%
pa
• Around 5% of PNG’s
population now live in the
NCD
Methodology
Interview components
1. Demographic information on households
(gender, place of birth, age, education levels)
2. Household characteristics (house structure,
latrine, electricity, fuel energy used for cooking
and water source)
3. Incomes, employment and livelihoods
4. Accessing land in ATS
5. Main risks or threats to livelihoods in ATS
6. Relationships with people – family, friends in
broader Port Moresby, Tufi and elsewhere
Land
• Customary
landowners
• State
• Private developers
• ‘Others’ moving in
Household
economy
Services
and utilities
Violence,
crime and
law and
order
• Employment
• Economy
• Relationships with kin
•Water
• Education: Donors,
NGO’s, Department of
Education
• Ethnic violence
• Law and order
• Managing young men
• Resilience
Broader
environment:
Business,
State,
Customary
land owners
Development
agencies
Supply and provision of water
• Political economy of water – customary
landowners of Sirinumu dam
• Ecological factors – relatively low and
seasonal rainfall
• Old water system
• Growing population since
• Water is a scarce resource in
Port Moresby
CHALLENGES
OPPORTUNITIES
• Collection of payments
• Mismanagement of collected
payments
• Late payments
• Political pressure by settlement
populations on MPs and municipal
authorities
 EDA RANU DISCONNECTS WATER
DUE TO NON PAYMENT OF BILL
• Vandalism: damage of water pipes
and taps
• Low water pressure
• Commitments by MPs not followed
up with delivery
• Many settlement residents make
use of seasonal rainfall.
• Recent commitment by MP to
install more taps
Em tasol – tenkiu
Thank you