The Water Authority of Fiji recently completed significant work on the 900-millimetre connection from Viria to Waila, which is crucial for enhancing water supply resilience. This project aims to provide extra flow to ensure continued service delivery in the event of major issues at Waila.
During a parliamentary update earlier this month, the Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services, and Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, addressed the steps taken to mitigate water supply shortages amid dry conditions. He emphasized that the Waila System employs four major lift pumps to feed water into the Wainibuku Reservoir, which supports various areas, including Tovata, Kalabu, Flagstaff, Nasinu, Nagatugatu, Dokainaisavu, and Colo-i-Suva.
Ro Filipe warned of potential delivery risks, citing the absence of backup systems for critical pumping infrastructure, such as the switchboard transformer. He noted that such failures could reduce pumping capability and affect approximately 40 percent of the population in Suva and Nausori.
The Minister also announced plans to increase the capacity of the Viria Treatment Plant from 40 million litres per day (MLD) to 80 MLD. This expansion is expected to significantly enhance the flow into the Suva System via Waila, ensuring the system can meet both current and future demands.
Additionally, Ro Filipe encouraged rainwater harvesting as a means for citizens to have a backup water source, especially in the face of unpredictable weather and climate change. He advised that having a system in place for collecting rainwater is wise given potential disruptions from extreme weather events such as cyclones or floods.