Reliable Clean Water for Buka Island, Papua New Guinea

On the stunning Petats Island, part of the Buka Island region in Papua New Guinea, beauty hides a harsh reality: water scarcity.

Sustainable Reverse Osmosis System Turning Seawater to Drinking Water

Location: Petats Island, Buka | Population served: ~3,500 people
System type: Solar-powered reverse osmosis (RO) with solar pump distribution
Application: Community drinking water

On the stunning Petats Island, part of the Buka Island region in Papua New Guinea, beauty hides a harsh reality: water scarcity.

Sustainable municipal water supply

The island’s 3,500 residents rely on a shallow freshwater lens that turns brackish during dry spells. The well water, often yellow-brown and musty from organic matter, is not suitable for drinking. During prolonged droughts, families are forced to make costly boat trips to the mainland to access safe water.

Why it matters: local water treatment plant for villages

This decentralized, renewable water solution means families in remote island villages no longer have to choose between unsafe water or expensive travel. It strengthens local resilience and ensures year-round access to clean and safe water—powered by the sun.

To solve local clean water management, together with our partner Sustainable Water Systems, we installed a fully solar-powered reverse osmosis system, a model type SW18, that transforms saline water into high-quality drinking water—day after day, even in extended dry periods. The clean water is stored in central tanks and distributed across the community through a solar-powered pump system, reaching multiple access points.

Off-grid water system for remote community

Petats is a coral reef island—vulnerable to rising sea levels and climate shifts. This installation is more than a water system; it’s a lifeline for an island on the frontline of climate change.