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The Maldive Islands comprise a group of coral islands in the Indian Ocean. The
main islands are heavily populated and overcrowded. Development is intensive creating
unique requirements for water supply and sewerage and resettlement to the less inhabited
outer islands.
Fraser Thomas were engaged in 1995 to develop
regulations and procedures for the sector, including:
- the review of existing Law and regulations,
- preparation of guidelines for water supply and sanitation,
- development and evaluation to strategic management plans and policies,
- drafting of regulations for the licensing of water supply undertakings
- preparation of performance standards and forms for operational management
Sanitation Development Plan
Villingili Island
UNDP
Villingili Island is a coral island
in the North Malé Atoll, of the Maldive Islands. It is only 500m in diameter and one
kilometre from the capital Malé. Malé is severely overcrowded with 59,000 people on an
island which is 500m x 1500m in size. Consequently it is proposed to develop a new suburb
on Villingili Island where the design population will be 15,000 at an average of 15
person/house.
Fraser Thomas were commissioned by UNDP in 1990 to
prepare a Sanitation Development Plan for Villingili. The scope of work included:
- review of Malé sewerage
- computer analysis of oceanographic data from current metes and meteorological records
- selection of a preferred outfall location and prediction of sewage field impacts
- detailed preliminary design and costing of sewerage, pump stations and sea outfall
- provision of standard design concepts suitable for Villingili which address the existing problems at Malé
- environmental impact comment
- preparation of Sanitation Development Plan including legislative requirements.
In the course of the
study the Villingili Water Supply Development Plan proposed by others was briefly
reviewed. As a result of the review an alternative combined water and sewerage scheme was
proposed which was cheaper than the cost of the original water scheme alone.
The proposal recommended treatment of sewage
to a standard suitable for recharge to the groundwater lens via a community-wide
distribution scheme, such that each household could construct a traditional well for
non-potable use and collect roof water for potable use. This scheme was culturally and
environmental acceptable, protecting the coral reef since an outfall would not be
utilised. It also provided major economic savings.
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