Water PNG Limited | Company Profiles

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Water PNG strives to be a catalyst for change to actively participate in the

socio-economic growth of a nation

Writer: Matthew Staff

Project Manager: Matt Cole-Wilkin 

As the primary provider of water supply and sanitation services in Papua

New Guinea, Water PNG continues to serve as much more than a utilities
operator; rather acknowledged as a social enabler enriching one of the
most logistically challenging countries in the world.

Water PNG was initially established to rationalise the provision of water

supply and sanitation in the urban areas of PNG, addressing a sector that
was dangerously fragmented prior to the body’s inception back in 1987
(then called The Waterboard).

“It had a name change to PNG Waterboard and recently changed this to
Water PNG officially 10 December, 2010 at the Gateway Hotel in Port
Moresby,” the Company introduces on its website. “The corporate
governance framework and policy is formulated by the Board of Directors
and Management Team in accordance with the functions stipulated in the
National Water Supply and Sewerage Act and Government directives.” 

The Company goes on to explain the need for such an operator given the
country’s climatic challenges amid a seemingly abundant supply of water.
Fluctuating rain patterns and global warming has caused increasing
amounts of water scarcity around the country and while water quality has
never been in doubt, directing the resource to a growing population and
expanding infrastructure has been a tough task entrusted to Water PNG.

“The development and distribution of clean and safe water to communities

in both villages and towns are also a major issue,” the Company continues.
“To address issues relating to water resource regulation, drinking water
quality standards, and regulation of operations, the Government vested
various responsibilities with three institutions. These are the Department of
Environment and Conservation operating under the Environment Act 2000,
the Department of Health under Public Health Act, and Water PNG under
National Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1986.”

Inevitably driven by higher bodies, the Company is still allowed flexibility

and autonomy in how it goes about achieving its aims and to this end has
begun to make an impact courtesy of four overarching corporate values.

The first two revolve around integrity and teamwork in order to create a
trusted and collaborative influence built around good governance and
corporate credibility.

The third pillar incorporates customer and stakeholder satisfaction and the
search for ongoing excellence. Perhaps most significant though is value
four; change and innovation.

The Company explains: “We recognise that change is constant and are
therefore committed to continuous improvement and innovation, always
ensuring that we inspire our people and our clients with creative solutions.
We strive to be a catalyst for change to actively participate in the socio-
economic growth of the nation.”

Health and stability

Aligned with these aforementioned corporate values is a set of equally

structured and adhered-to corporate goals.

These include: performing in accordance with industry benchmarks;

ensuring the safe provision of safe and sustainable water and sanitation;
delivering in line with national objectives; ensuring financial and
commercial sustainability; promoting excellent customer service; being
environmentally conscious; promoting a clean, safe, secure, peaceful and a
decent work environment; and to cultivate a dynamic, healthy, competent
and progressive workforce.
When all of the above fall into place, the Company is able to fulfil the
objectives it has been set to complete.

From a water and sewerage systems perspective, this incorporates four

main areas of concern; the water network, water quality, water treatment,
and sewerage.

The Company details the former: “Water PNG currently operates 20

declared Water and Sewerage Districts throughout the country. The total
urban population served by Water PNG is about 300,000, which represents
less than six percent of the total population of the nation. The small urban
population, however, represents significant cash economy, in order to
ensure financial health and stability.

“Water PNG operates in major towns where operations are commercially

viable and cost recovery is possible. Operations are adversely impacted by
landowner interruptions, security concerns, and staff harassment. In small
urban centres, operational environment is characterised by small markets,
high unit costs, small capacities, and geographical remoteness.”

Water quality is thankfully a more manageable hurdle to overcome and is

achieved through continuous sampling and analytical work, before being
compounded by an Annual Drinking Water Quality Report courtesy of Water
PNG.

From a water treatment perspective, the Company provides more than 100
million litres of treated water each day to the residents of the 20 townships
it has a presence in, drawn from local river, spring and ground water
catchments.

And this inevitably overlaps with its sewerage efforts which affect seven of
the aforementioned 20 provincial towns.

The Company says: “Sewerage Treatment Plants treat the sewage or used
water from the towns. It comes from domestic, commercial and industrial
sources. The collection, treatment and disposal of sewage are integral
parts of Water PNG’s operations.”

Strategic themes

In everything that Water PNG does, people and the country are put first,
leveraging a mission to think globally but act locally.

“We strive to adopt relevant international best practice, where practical, to

achieve our corporate goals,” the Company affirms.

The entity also values diversity as a core strength comprised within this
ethos, forming a committed, cohesive and dynamic team. Accountability is
similar pivotal in gaining the country’s trust, ensuring that the State’s
money is being spent wisely at all times.

And inevitably, by becoming a reputed member of the PNG society has also
led to it becoming an employer of choice.

“Water PNG Limited is committed to delivering safe water and sanitation

services to the people of Papua New Guinea. As we transition into the new
company, we are embracing new ways of doing business to ensure we
achieve our three strategic themes: building the business; operational
excellence and innovation; and delighting the customer. We are therefore
seeking highly qualified, experienced, passionate and committed
candidates to join our team.”

The latter point of delighting the customer has been enforced by the team
that has evolved within PNG but is evidenced by its high levels of customer
service protocol which assures and facilitates independence in equal
measure.

“We pride ourselves in always striving to ensure that our services are to
your expectations,” the Company states to this end.

The leading provider

As stipulated in the National Water Supply and Sewerage Act, Water PNG’s
remit is to regulate all water supply and sewerage systems deemed as
‘private systems’ not operated by it. A seemingly complex requirement
admittedly, but the Company’s success in beginning to realise this long-
term vision has been recognised on numerous occasions over the years.

As recently as 2014, the Company was named Best Performing Large Utility
and Most Improved Water Utility at the Pacific Water & Waste Conference;
and the progression has taken on extra impetus since then too.

A $150-200 million water plant just outside of Port Moresby is currently in

the offing, complemented by a district improvement projects and
involvement in a major new industrial park on the horizon.

As each of these projects come to fruition, Water PNG will edge nearer to
its overriding long-term goal which is to “achieve 100 percent coverage of
provincial towns and 85 percent of all district towns progressing to the
ultimate achievement of the PNG Vision 2050”.

“[Before then], our medium-term vision, by 2018, is to expand our water

supply and sanitation services to two additional provincial towns and 16
district towns in PNG,” the Company adds.

And encapsulating both the short and long-term ambitions, its mission will
remain to “be the leading provider of safe water supply and sanitation
services in Papua New Guinea