A major water infrastructure rehabilitation and expansion project is set to launch in Ward 1 of the Moresby North-West electorate in Papua New Guinea’s National Capital District, aiming to improve service reliability, reduce water losses and strengthen revenue accountability.
Moresby North-West MP Lohia Boe Samuel announced the project, which will serve communities including Hanuabada, Elevala, Gabi, Mirigini (Badihagwa), Tatana-Araira, Baruni, Koukou and Sasivaga.
The initiative follows a 2021 assessment that identified ageing infrastructure, inadequate distribution networks, water rationing and significant water losses as key challenges in the electorate.
The project will replace and upgrade ageing distribution pipelines, expand the network, and refurbish water tanks and pump stations. It is designed to meet projected demand and provide Ward 1 households with more reliable access to potable water as the population grows.
Reducing water losses, improving revenue
One of the project’s key priorities is reducing water losses in the existing system.
The affected communities are currently classified as unbilled consumers, meaning water is supplied without an effective metering and billing system. The project aims to transition these villages to a metered water supply.
Metering is expected to provide more accurate consumption data, improve billing and strengthen revenue collection. It could also support a more financially sustainable water supply system by helping service providers better understand demand and plan infrastructure investments.
The upgrade comes as communities across the National Capital District, including Moresby North-West, face growing demand for essential urban infrastructure. A reliable water supply is critical for households, businesses and community facilities, while rationing and service interruptions can impose costs on residents and economic activity.
The project will also target higher-elevation communities, where maintaining water pressure and reliable supply can be particularly challenging. Fire hydrants will be installed throughout the upgraded network, providing an added public-safety benefit and improving communities’ capacity to respond to fire emergencies.
Further upgrades planned
The Ward 1 project is expected to form part of a wider programme to improve water infrastructure across the Moresby North-West electorate.
The electorate office said Wards 7, 8, 10 and 11 would follow after the successful completion of the Ward 1 project, extending improvements in water reliability, network coverage, metering and revenue accountability to more communities.
For Moresby North-West, the investment is more than an upgrade to ageing infrastructure. It is an investment in the essential services needed to support population growth, economic activity and improved living standards in Port Moresby.
Its success will depend on delivering a reliable 24/7 water supply, reducing system losses, improving metering and billing, and establishing a sustainable model for maintaining and expanding the network as demand increases.
