Navigating drought, disaster, and disrepair: determinants of water supply reliability in rural Vanuatu

ABSTRACT Ensuring drinking water is available when needed is central to the human right to water and Sustainable Development Goal 6.1. Yet in rural areas of the Pacific, two-thirds of the population lack water that is consistently available. This study analysed a national inventory of rural water systems in Vanuatu using multivariable regression to identify predictors of water availability. Rainwater systems had significantly lower odds of providing a year-round supply and were more susceptible to water shortages. Piped systems performed better than other systems in terms of drought resilience but had higher odds of system breakdowns and damage from natural disasters. Among piped systems, those drawing on groundwater from dug wells or boreholes had significantly higher odds of both year-round and 24-h supply compared with systems using springs or surface water. The odds of year-round availability increased further when groundwater-fed piped systems were equipped with solar-powered pumps. These findings suggest that groundwater-fed piped systems with solar pumping offer the most reliable and resilient configuration for rural Vanuatu. Regardless of technology or water source, sustained water services require stronger operation and maintenance systems and external support for community-based management, particularly in lower-income areas.