By Carl Smith and Dinah Lewis Boucher
A serious drought hit Micronesia earlier this year, the worst hit areas were Yap state and its outer islands. Photo: ABC / Carl Smith
After a severe and prolonged drought, communities across the state of Yap and its outer islands in the Federated States of Micronesia are future-proofing water supplies - and their way of life - amid a changing climate.
A state of emergency was declared earlier this year as a result of the drought, and although it has since ended, it's still extraordinarily dry in some parts.
By June the situation was dire, and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that teams and residents from islands across Yap State were seeing "taro patches drying up, coconuts drying out, and many reports of yellowing crops" associated with the drought.
For many, this latest drought raised deeper concerns about what is still to come as the climate continues to change.
Victor Nabeyan, the man in charge of the government-owned water and power operation, said they were doing all they could to adapt.
"Small islands in the Pacific are most affected by climate change, and so we are very mindful of that," he said.
"Our whole planning revolves around that.
"So if you look at our energy master plan, it's all about adaptation measures, investing more in renewable energy, and also making sure that during a drought there is the infrastructure to generate this water from either our nation or enough well capacity because climate change is getting worse.
"We're more affected than other countries."
Victor Nabeyan (R) said the lengthy drought brought up concerns around water security. Photo: ABC / Carl Smith
Extreme weather events
During the drought, Jeff Adalbai, the Mayor of the Municipality of Rull - home to about a fifth of Yap's population - said he watched their main reservoir level drop.
"This is the larger one. We have just about 15 per cent of water," he said in June.
"We are looking at about three months of no rain right here."
Yap's main reservoir with Mayor Jeff Adalbai. Photo: ABC / Carl Smith
The reservoir sits alongside the main road on the outskirts of Colonia, the capital of Yap's main island. For months, Adalbai said watching water levels drop lower was an increasingly confronting sight.
Climate change is predicted to bring more extreme weather events like droughts to FSM, enhancing existing concerns about the future.
"Well, yeah, climate change is a big issue. Not only here in the islands, but it's all over the world," Adalbai said.
"And so you're looking at a spot in the world that is affected by climate change. And so, you know, for those of us who have children and children's children ... that's a big worry that we have."
Yap's main reservoir pictured in June. Photo: ABC / Carl Smith
In the middle of Colonia, ACE Pure Water was one of two water purification stations on the island that worked around the clock to keep up with demand.
Adalbai also owns this business and runs it with his partner.
Concerns about the tap water's drinkability and the unfortunate timing of Yap's other water purification business closing for repairs pushed his team.
"It has been a double load, which has been very challenging. My partner; we had to work until past midnight to make sure the next day our customers can have fresh, clean and filtered water."
ACE pure water's Jeff Adalbai and Marzy Adalbai. Photo: ABC / Carl Smith
Outer islands most vulnerable
But for many residents beyond town, access to water is a bigger challenge.
The atoll Ulithi is one of a chain of a few dozen islands within Yap that sit around a central lagoon.
Ulithi atoll from the air. Photo: ABC / Carl Smith
Chief Pedrus, who also goes by Peter Paul Manglor, said the fluctuating population of about 1000 people on Ulithi did their best to prepare for the drought.
Chief Pedrus said the people on Ulithi did their best to prepare for the drought. Photo: ABC / Carl Smith
This included limiting their water use, patching containers, calling for aid and arranging extra water shipments. But despite efforts to prepare, it was not enough.
"One month, not a little bit OK. One month and a half, not OK... We have all kinds of communication over the radio going to the mainland, to the government, 'We need water. we need water'.
"[After recent rain] we prepare the tanks, we try to collect whatever water we get here. So far it's been looking nice, but I still tell people to limit their drinking water and cooking water."
Coconut trees in Ulithi. Photo: ABC / Marzy Adalbai
On the island of Federai in Ulithi atoll, locals point out that coconuts on their trees are shrivelled and underdeveloped from a lack of water.
A couple hundred people live there and rely heavily on marine resources for food. But the few crops they can grow are also essential, especially coconuts.
Local Florentius Mareyet said this year's drought was much worse than previous years.
Water reserves are low, and unlike the main island of Yap, any wells on the island are prone to salt seeping in, leading to salty water for drinking.
"We're the smallest, skinniest island of the Ulithi atoll," he said.
He said this meant salt water often seeped into the island's only well, leaving just a thin layer of fresh water on top.
Florentius from Federai in Ulithi. Photo: ABC / Carl Smith
Due to recent rain, senator Terrence Fong from the Yap State Legislature said outer island communities were regaining hope.
"It has been raining, so it's still hot out, but we're very, very thankful it seems we're at the tail end of that drought," he said.
For many, this latest extreme drought has raised deeper concerns about what's still to come as the climate continues to change.
But the communities across Yap State have been banding together to do all they can to prepare.
Carl Smith's travel for this story was funded by the Pulitzer Centre as part of its ocean reporting grants and fellowships programme.
-This article was first published by ABC.
