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River flooding, especially flash floods, are a serious and frequent problem in Samoa and in particular Apia where steep catchments with rapid flood onsets are subject to frequent heavy rainfall events. The April 2001 flood event inundated large parts of Apia urban area within a negligible time lag from the beginning of the intense rainfall. The surrounding watersheds responded to the flash floods with combined overbank/overland flow. Approximately 5,000 local residents were directly affected by the flood and resulting damages were estimated in excess of WST$ 11 million. Such events are not rare for Samoa.

River flooding, especially flash floods, are a serious and frequent problem in Samoa and in particular Apia where steep catchments with rapid flood onsets are subject to frequent heavy rainfall events. The April 2001 flood event inundated large parts of Apia urban area within a negligible time lag from the beginning of the intense rainfall. The surrounding watersheds responded to the flash floods with combined overbank/overland flow. Approximately 5,000 local residents were directly affected by the flood and resulting damages were estimated in excess of WST$ 11 million. Such events are not rare for Samoa.

Flooding imposes significant costs on households and businesses located in the lower Vaisigano catchment area. SOPAC, under the European Development Fund (EDF) project Reducing Vulnerability of Pacific ACP States, has worked with the Government of Samoa to develop the Samoa Flood Management and Action Plan, which identifies actions for government agencies, the private sector, NGOs and communities responsible for flood and floodplain management that can assist in reducing flood risks in Samoa, particularly in the lower Vaisigano catchment area located in Apia, which is subject to frequent flooding.

The Solomon Islands is characterised by scattered islands that vary considerably in size, physical and hydrologic characteristics. The types of islands range from high volcanic to tiny low coral atolls. The higher islands have river systems whilst the low coral atolls have no natural surface water systems and are completely dependent upon rainwater catchments and groundwater.

Water is essential for human, faunal and floral physiology. Water sustains life and is essential for climatic equilibrium, the maintenance of ecosystems, agriculture, industrial processing and hydropower. In many countries, increasing population, natural resource extraction, food production, industrial activity and other land uses are producing diffuse and point source discharges which carry a wide range of contaminants into water bodies and affect the quality and quantity of water for other uses. This situation is caused by ineffective assessment, planning, utilisation and management of water by water resources management authorities, water supply and sewage disposal service providers and other sectoral users of water resources. There is an immediate and critical need for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in a catchment unit in order to ensure the sustainable use of the available water resources.