Residents in Tamavua and Namadi are urging for a permanent resolution to the ongoing water supply problems that have consistently troubled the area. Despite the recent heavy rainfall, locals continue to experience water shortages, with the latest outage reported just last Saturday.
Many community members express frustration over receiving repeated explanations from the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), including reasons such as low water levels and contaminated water. Long-time resident Epeli Rabua shared his disappointment about the situation: “This never used to happen 15 years ago, but now we sometimes go without water for nearly two weeks. Even with continuous rain, they tell us the water level is low or the water is dirty. It’s already 2025, and nothing has changed.” He noted that the water crisis disrupts daily life, causing delays in work and extra financial burdens for families in higher elevations who must invest in water tanks and pumps.
Another anonymous resident remarked that while the community has made adjustments to cope with water shortages, the situation is still frustrating, especially when water delivery services fail to adequately address household needs.
However, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Ro Filipe Tuisawau, the Minister for Public Works, Transport, and Meteorological Services, has highlighted that ongoing infrastructure projects aim to alleviate these water supply issues. The demand in the Suva-Nausori corridor exceeds supply capacity, currently requiring 173 million liters of water daily. To address this gap, the $40 million Viria Water Treatment Plant is being developed to add an extra 40 million liters per day to the supply, catering to anticipated population growth.
Moreover, the Princes Road Water Infrastructure Project promises to significantly enhance water delivery in elevated areas like Tamavua, Tacirua, and Khalsa Road. This project includes replacing the current pumping system with a gravity-fed system to ensure resilience during elevated turbidity events. Key components of this initiative will feature a series of pipelines, new reservoirs, and upgraded infrastructure designed to meet the community’s water needs.
Residents are hopeful that these progressive efforts will finally resolve the long-standing challenges of unreliable water supply in their area.
This situation serves as a reminder of the importance of investing in infrastructure to address basic needs like water access, which directly impacts the quality of life for residents. With the plans in place, there is a strong potential for improvement and a renewed sense of optimism for the future.
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