Nearly 200,000 residents in the Suva-Nausori corridor will face water disruptions starting midnight tonight and lasting until Sunday due to scheduled maintenance by the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF).
In anticipation of these disruptions, the ministries of health and education are implementing measures to ensure essential services remain operational. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro stated that discussions with WAF officials will take place today to explore water supply solutions for affected schools. He mentioned, “We will issue a statement after the meeting and provide schools with coping mechanisms. Closing schools will be our last resort.”
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu assured that plans are underway to avoid interruptions in medical services. “We are aware of the water disruptions this weekend,” he noted. “We have outlined a plan with medical centres and the CWM Hospital to maintain services as normal, so the public should not be concerned.”
WAF has urged residents to store enough water for three days and has confirmed that water carting services will be on standby to address urgent needs.
WAF’s chief operating officer, Seru Soderberg, explained that these maintenance works are essential for connecting a new DN900mm gravity main from the Waitolu reservoir to the existing DN600mm Rising Main from the Waila water treatment plant, which supplies the Wainibuku reservoir. “This will result in one of the three pipelines to the Wainibuku reservoir being offline, reducing total water flow to 60 percent of its normal capacity,” he added.
Soderberg noted that the work will take place in challenging conditions with a high-water table, complicating the operation. “The 600mm pipeline will be shut down at midnight Thursday to de-water it before work begins early Friday morning,” he explained. He acknowledged the inconvenience this may cause but stressed that the maintenance is vital for preventing future problems.
“We apologize for any inconvenience caused and assure the public that we’ve streamlined the process to complete the work as quickly as possible, weather permitting.” Residents are encouraged to plan accordingly and stay informed through WAF’s media channels for ongoing updates.