Rainfall and land use impacts on water quality and communities in the Waimanu River Catchment in the South Pacific: the case of Viti Levu, Fiji

Abstract

A community-based assessment along with a water quality framework was used to explore the Waimanu River water quality and to determine the impacts of the water quality on the communities which rely on the river for livelihood, sustenance, and recreation. Since both climatic and non-climatic factors affect the river system, the study used rainfall variability as well as land use assessments in addition to the community-based assessment to assess the effects of changing environmental factors on the river water quality. It was found that frequent rainfall intensified the runoff into the Waimanu River of contaminants arising from unsustainable land use practices in the Waimanu Catchment including agriculture, gravel extraction, logging, deforestation, and improper waste management. These led to physicochemical and microbial pollution in the river which augmented the vulnerability of the riverine communities to water pollution by hampering their food, water, income, and health securities. The river water quality is expected to further deteriorate as future climate change projections predict an intensification of annual rainfall events, thereby increasing river water contamination and risks to aquatic life and human life. Non-climatic factors that endanger water quality could be controlled by implementing better upstream land and waste management strategies on a catchment scale to minimize the adverse impacts of declining water quality on downstream communities. Methodologies employed in this study to monitor and maintain river water quality are applicable on a global scale to promote the health and security of riverine communities.

Literature survey of subseasonal‐to‐seasonal predictions in the southern hemisphere

“…On the other hand, excess of rainfall can have detrimental socioeconomic effects. For example, according to Begg et al (2021), on average, Figi's economy suffers flood losses of approximately US$9.7 million per annum and about 10 people lose their lives annually due to floods. S2S forecasts cannot be used to make specific flood predictions but could be used to identify the increased likelihood of flooding where stream flows have already been predicted to be high (White et al, 2017).…”

Transforming place-based management within watersheds in Fiji: the Watershed Interventions for Systems Health project

“…Finally, we found patterns of risk factors related to behaviours of residents, including reporting infrequent hand washing (and/or without soap) and high frequency of working in wet environment (including without appropriate protective equipment). Under these circumstances, awareness raising, education and health promotion activities are worthy interventions in rural communities in Fiji where mosquito habitat remains in proximity to households [18], where exposure to contaminated water in the environment is likely to occur [65], and where increased attention to hygienic practices are warranted [66].…”

The Environmental Risks Posed by the Oil and Gas Development and Its Potential Impacts on Mangrove Ecosystems and the Coastal Community’s Well-Being

“…The Wai Wai community in Guyana recognised the significance of biodiversity, mainly through the culture, recreation, education, and ecotourism that biodiversity provides. These help the community promote a sustainable development plan for their community (Conservation International Guyana, 2010;Begg et al, 2022). For instance, the community attaches meaning to certain animal and plant species, which makes these ecological resources an integral part of their culture.…”