Water trucks have begun distributing emergency supplies across Fiji after Tropical Cyclone Vaianu disrupted reticulation and left parts of the country with intermittent or no mains water, the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) says. The utility has activated contingency operations and mobilised teams and vehicles to keep taps running where possible while recovery work is constrained by the storm.
WAF chief executive Seru Soderberg said 13 trucks were already supplying elevated Tamavua areas, running from Colo-i-Suva through to Lami, with additional support planned for communities in Navua and Deuba. He confirmed a further 23 trucks are on standby for the Western Division, ready to move once road access improves, and 10 trucks have been staged in the north to support affected towns and settlements there.
“Sustaining supply where possible and accelerating recovery once conditions permit are our priorities,” Soderberg said, describing water carting as the frontline response as crews contend with damage and access issues. Public advisories urging residents to store adequate household water, boil drinking water as a precaution, and conserve usage are being circulated through WAF’s Facebook, Viber, SMS channels and its mobile app, and a 24/7 call centre has been activated to receive reports and requests.
How long disruptions will last remains uncertain and will hinge on the cyclone’s path and the level of associated rainfall, WAF warned. Officials cautioned that restoration efforts could be prolonged where rain continues to fall or where communities become cut off by floodwater or blocked roads, delaying technicians and equipment from reaching damaged pipes or treatment facilities.
The mobilisation comes as a reminder of longer-term pressures on Fiji’s water system. In mid-January the Water Authority had already flagged high demand on the Tamavua treatment plant and announced a Colo-i-Suva programme and other measures intended to ease strain on the Suva-Lami corridor. That initiative was designed to redistribute supply and increase storage capacity; the arrival of Vaianu has forced WAF to revert temporarily to emergency carting to support elevated and vulnerable areas.
WAF says it will progressively implement recovery works as soon as weather and road conditions allow, prioritising areas with critical needs and known outages. For now, water carting continues to be the primary means of support for households affected by the cyclone, with the number and location of trucks adjusted as teams assess on-the-ground conditions.
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