Solid Waste Management and Water Supply
Rapid urbanization has resulted in unsustainable production and consumption patterns on many SIDS. In general, urban populations are increasing, as islanders switch from traditional subsistence living to dependence on cash incomes. Poor sanitation, and water contamination arising from a lack of controlled planning practices are placing these populations under threat. Ground water supplies are contaminated by pollution from mining projects and open-pit dumping. Water shortages and inadequate water supply is a common problem on many SIDS due to an increase in consumption levels. Other factors including deforestation and climatic changes also contribute to water shortages.
Many SIDS are experiencing a growing demand for effective sanitation and solid waste management services. Such services are needed to protect island inhabitants as well as diverse island ecosystems. Negative impacts of untreated waste and sewage that is dumped into marine environments such as coral reefs are evident on many SIDS. A lack of proper solid waste management controls has resulted in unregulated dumping of solid and liquid waste into lagoon ecosystems in countries such as the Marshall Islands. Furthermore, littering is also becoming an issue on some islands. Finding abandoned vehicles strew-across the island is a common site on some SIDS.