Nearly 200,000 residents along the Suva-Nausori corridor will face water disruptions starting at midnight tonight and lasting until Sunday due to maintenance work by the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF).
In response, the Ministries of Health and Education are taking measures to ensure that essential services remain uninterrupted. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro mentioned that a meeting with WAF officials is scheduled for today to discuss alternative water supply options for affected schools. “After the meeting, we will issue a statement and provide schools with coping mechanisms,” Mr. Radrodro noted, adding, “Closing schools will be our last resort.”
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu confirmed that plans are in motion to prevent interruptions in medical services. “We are aware of the water disruptions this weekend,” he said. “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 advised residents to store enough water for three days and has assured that water carting services will be available to meet urgent needs.
According to WAF’s Chief Operating Officer Seru Soderberg, the disruptions are necessary to connect 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 means that only one of the three pipelines to the Wainibuku reservoir will be offline, reducing the total water flow to 60 percent of its usual capacity,” Mr. Soderberg explained.
He added that the work will take place in challenging terrain with a high-water table, making it a complex operation. “The 600mm pipeline will be shut down at midnight on Thursday to de-water before work begins early Friday morning,” he said.
Mr. Soderberg acknowledged that the disruption would be inconvenient but emphasized the importance of the work to prevent future issues. “We apologize for any inconvenience caused and assure the public that we have streamlined the process to complete the work as swiftly as possible, weather permitting.” Residents are urged to prepare accordingly and monitor WAF’s media channels for updates.