GEOSCIENCE DIVISION
Map Cook Islands Federated Sates of Micronesia Fiji Kiribati Nauru Niue Papua New Guinea Republic of Marshall Islands Republic of Palau Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu
Country
Population
Land Area
Climate
Water resource
Water consumption
Country Cook Islands Cook Islands
Population 21,750 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 236.7 km2
Climate
Water resource
Water consumption
Country Federated Sates of Micronesia Federated Sates of Micronesia
Population 107,862 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 702 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 4,928 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Fiji Fiji
Population 918 675 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 18,270 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2000 - 3000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Kiribati Kiribati
Population 107,817 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 811 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: South of the equator: 1,300 mm Tarawa: 2,000 mm Northernmost islands: over 3,200mm Eastern Line Islands: less than 1,000 mm
Water consumption
Country Nauru Nauru
Population 11,528 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 21 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2,090 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Niue Niue
Population 1,625m(GoN statistics 2006)
Land Area 260 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2,180 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea
Population 5,795,887 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 462,840 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall:1000-80000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Republic of Marshall Islands Republic of Marshall Islands
Population 20,842
Land Area 458 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 3,700 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Republic of Palau Republic of Palau
Population 61,815(July 2007 est.)
Land Area 11,854.3 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: Southern attols: 4,000mm Northern attols:2,000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Samoa Samoa
Population 214,265
Land Area 2,944 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 3,000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Solomon Islands Solomon Islands
Population 566,842
Land Area 28,450 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall:1500-5000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Tonga Tonga
Population 116,921
Land Area 748 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: Varies from north and south of tonga with an estimated average of 2500 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Tuvalu Tuvalu
Population 11.992 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 26 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 3000mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Vanuatu Vanuatu
Population 211,971 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 12,200 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2000 - 4000 mm per annum
Water consumption
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Tonga
Geography
Total Area 748 km2
Land 718 km2
Water 30 km2
Highest Elevation 1,033 m

Land Use
Arable 20%
Perm. Crop 14.67%
Other 65.33% (2005)

People
Population 116,921 (July 2007 est.)
Population Growth Rate 1.847% (July 2007 est.)

Economy
GDP per capita (PPP) $2,200 (2005 est.)

Water Statistics
Avg Rainfall

Varies from north to south of Tonga with an estimated average of 2500 mm per annum 
Tonga


Status of Water Resources
The source of freshwater for Tonga is either through rainwater harvesting, or extracted from a thin freshwater lens within the highly porous limestone substrate. The water resources of Tonga are primarily in the form of groundwater. Surface water resources are not present on most islands; exceptions are 'Eua where supply originates from springs in caves high above sea level, and on a number of the volcanic islands including Niuafo'oua and Niuatoputapu and Tofua, where there are several salty lakes.

Surface water: Eua, Niuafo'oua and Niuatoputapu and Tofua.
Groundwater: Urban centres.

Problems with Water Resources and Associated Environment Issues
  • Exploitation and consumption
The greatest demand for water is on Tongatapu. According to the 1996 census, Tonga’s total population was 97,784. Tongatapu has the highest population density and totalled 66,979 which accounted for 69% of the total population. Vava’u recorded 15715 (16%), Ha’apai recorded 8138 (8%), ‘Eua recorded 4934 (5%), and the Niuas recorded 2018 (2%). As it is estimated that the population has grown by 46,000 people in the last decade it is possible that the population of Tongatapu has grown by up to 30,000 people. These figures can all be updated and verified when the 2006 census figures are released. Water consumption per household per month, in the Nuku’alofa area was estimated at 0.03 ML in 1998.
  • Wastewater management and pollution control
There is no centralised reticulated sewerage system in Tonga. All wastewater is managed by on-site systems, with supervision by the Ministry of Health (MOH) when resources permit. In this respect wastewater management is in the hands of the community.
  • Information exchanges on water resources
According to personnel involved in water management, there is no functioning information or data exchange systems on water resources. Data and information are exchanged to fulfil requirements for externally funded projects such as the current development of the Water Safety Plans. However on a daily basis this does not necessarily occur.

Diagnostic Report
Demonstration Proposal
Hot Spot Analysis

Information on this page obtained from Integrated Water Resources Management programme's Diagnostic Reports (SOPAC 2007)