Navua Faces Three-Week Water Crisis: What Residents Need to Know

Over 4,000 residents of Navua face the prospect of being without tap water for at least three weeks due to a significant leak in the main supply line. The leak, located in a submerged asbestos cement pipe within the Wainikavika irrigation dam, was identified by Public Works Department workers, revealing a 24-millimeter hole.

District Officer Seremaia Tuiteci has reached out to the Ministry of Primary Industries to see if the dam gates can be opened to release some of the three million cubic meters of water it contains. Repair efforts are set to commence as soon as the damaged section of pipe is accessible.

Headteachers in the area have indicated that schools may need to close sooner than scheduled if the water supply is not restored within the week. Prithi Raj, headteacher of Vashist Muni Primary School, reported closing the school due to sanitary concerns following several days without water.

Despite the challenges, Mr. Tuiteci stated that the Public Works Department plans to replace the damaged asbestos cement pipes with six-inch galvanized pipes along a new 1.5-kilometer route, with the hope that these upgrades will prevent future water supply issues that have plagued the Navua area.

Residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, suggesting that regular maintenance could have prevented such an incident, as the tap water system was first established in 1954 for a much smaller population, which has now nearly reached 5,000. Tuiteci acknowledged that officers from the Navua District Emergency Services Committee will oversee the distribution of water via road tankers to ensure fair access for all residents.

Eight trucks from the Suva Water Supply are currently delivering water, while many families living near the Navua River have resorted to using the river for bathing and washing clothes.

While this situation is undoubtedly challenging for Navua residents, the planned infrastructure improvements present an opportunity to create a more reliable water supply system that can serve the growing community more effectively in the future.