The new $8.34 million Nagado water treatment plant is set to benefit 38,810 households in Nadi, according to Minister for Public Works, Transport, and Meteorological Service, Ro Filipe Tuisawau.
Ro Filipe recently visited new government-funded project sites in the western region. He highlighted that the new water treatment plant incorporates advanced technologies that allow processing and critical data to be monitored from Lautoka and Suva.
“The new technologies are essential for evaluating the amount of water that needs to be utilized,” Ro Filipe explained. “It is crucial to have updated technologies for water monitoring. This data provides a clear picture of water usage across households, farms, and industries, enabling us to plan effectively for the future.”
He emphasized the importance of matching development to available resources to avoid future environmental issues. “Our resources are limited, and we must ensure that development aligns with these resources to prevent significant environmental problems down the line.”
Ongoing construction work includes the pipeline from Varaqe to Saru in Lautoka, and the Nagado Water Treatment Plant to Nadele, Nadi. These projects are expected to be completed by December this year.
“In the Nadi and Lautoka areas, the increasing developments, including hotels, industrial areas, subdivisions, and other projects, require substantial water,” Ro Filipe noted. “Therefore, all developments must be approached sustainably.”
He stressed the need to balance development with resource availability. “We need to consider how much water we can extract and ensure that developments align with the resources we have, whether it’s water, land, or other resources. Balancing these elements is critical.”