Abstract:
The purpose of this research is to examine the governance of groundwater supply to urban households in Nuku‟alofa, Tonga. The research evaluates the ways that the implementation of water safety plan practices shapes the supply of potable water at the household level and explores the opportunities that may be presented by the incorporation of stakeholder engagement principles into these plans. The research takes a mixed method, case study approach to examine the management of water quality through water safety plans for 15 villages in Nuku‟alofa, the urban center of Tongatapu, home to the largest population in Tonga. Through the analysis of government reports, scientific data and interviews with key government and community stakeholders this research reveals limitations in the implementation of water safety plans and explores the constraints and benefits of implementing a more coordinated relationship between water agencies, stakeholders and public. The research identifies that social and cultural attributes are important considerations in understanding the sustainability of water safety plans and reveal that better engagement between water agencies, key stakeholders and communities is required to improve the success of groundwater governance in Nuku‟alofa and enhance trust and social learning.
