In the Pacific Islands, while the stunning coastlines and beautiful scenery are often what come to mind, many residents face pressing public health challenges. Nearly half a million people in Pacific nations reside in informal urban settlements without adequate sanitation, such as easy access to functioning toilets. This situation impacts health, wellbeing, education, and livelihoods, especially for women, children, the elderly, and those with disabilities. A new study we conducted, published in the NPJ Clean Water journal, explores sanitation conditions in informal settlements in Fiji and Vanuatu. These findings underscore the urgent need for intervention.
Collaborating with researchers from the University of the South Pacific, we surveyed households and evaluated sanitation infrastructure. Our team looked at 393 households in nine informal settlements within the capitals of Fiji (Suva) and Vanuatu (Port Vila). These settlements, often built on unplanned land due to a shortage of affordable housing, typically lack access to basic services like sewer systems, electricity, paved roads, and waste collection. Our study revealed that despite the availability of piped water, the majority of households (ranging from 56% to 100% in each settlement) continue to depend on unsafe sanitation practices for waste management. Commonly used are makeshift dry pits, such as a hole in the ground with a seat above it or cesspits, which lack plumbing and do not use water for flushing.
These facilities are located onsite, meaning waste remains within the settlement whether treated or not. Additionally, one in three households loses toilet access during severe weather like heavy rain, cyclones, or floods. Dry pit systems are four to eight times more likely to suffer damage during these events compared to water-based systems in the same areas. Managing the waste from these systems, including sludge from septic tanks and pits, presents serious challenges for residents.
Even when functioning toilets exist, there often is no safe, sustainable method for waste disposal, leading it to be dumped in open spaces, rivers, or to seep into the ground—resulting in water source pollution and health risks. Furthermore, strong storms and heavy rains can damage sanitation systems, causing waste overflow and water contamination. In Melanesian countries like Vanuatu and Fiji, which face significant climate hazards, ensuring sanitation infrastructure in informal settlements can withstand these threats is vital. Poor sanitation in these areas contributes to diseases such as diarrhoea, intestinal worms, and trachoma. Research shows that improving water and sanitation significantly reduces childhood mortality and deaths from diarrhoea.
According to WHO and UNICEF, less than 3% of urban populations in Fiji and Vanuatu use unimproved sanitation. However, our findings suggest most households in informal settlements rely on unsafe sanitation, highlighting the need for monitoring strategies that differentiate between informal and formally planned areas. Solving the problem requires more than just toilets. A comprehensive approach to sanitation management is necessary, which includes developing a full-service chain for reliable waste removal, treatment, and disaster-resilient disposal.
This means building local expertise, supporting local service providers, maintaining systems well, and fostering community ownership for long-term sustainability. Providing these services in informal settlements is more challenging than in formal areas due to insecure land ownership and limited infrastructure, complicating service delivery. Yet, addressing sanitation issues in these communities is essential as a large portion of the Pacific urban population lives in informal settlements.