The Water Authority of Fiji is advising customers to conserve water and ensure they have enough stored for at least two days. This warning follows reports that the Tamavua system is facing critical shortages in raw water sources.
Currently, out of six primary raw water sources, five are at critical levels, including Headwork’s 1, 2, and 3, Waimanu Pump Station, and Savura Pump Station. In the Central Eastern region, nine out of 20 water sources have reached critical levels, with additional sources showing declining trends in water levels and flow.
Samuela Rokovaleusa, Acting Chief Operating Officer of WAF, stated that recent rainfall has had minimal effect on improving water levels and further declines are expected without significant rain. He noted that ongoing dry conditions have left many sources at their minimum flow, primarily relying on groundwater.
The low levels of raw water due to insufficient rainfall have led to reduced treated water production and struggling levels in the Tamavua Reservoir. The decline in these water sources directly affects water production efforts and results in lower reservoir levels. The WAF Hydrology Team is closely monitoring the situation.
Rokovaleusa mentioned that those dependent on the Tamavua Water Treatment Plant may face temporary disruptions, as operational teams may need to adjust valves depending on treated water production levels.