Residents of Tamavua and Namadi are urging for a lasting solution to the ongoing water supply issues that have long affected their communities. Despite experiencing frequent heavy rainfall, water outages remain a common and vexing challenge, with the most recent cutoff occurring last Saturday.
Many locals are frustrated with the explanations provided by the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), which often cite low water levels or contamination as the reasons behind the disruptions. Long-time resident Epeli Rabua shared his concerns, stating, “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 these water shortages significantly disrupt daily life, causing delays at work and financial strains as families in higher areas must invest in water tanks and pumps.
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned that while the community has had to adjust to these challenges, there continues to be discontent, especially with the unreliable timing and supply from water delivery trucks.
Amid these challenges, there is a positive outlook as Minister for Public Works, Transport, and Meteorological Services Ro Filipe Tuisawau highlighted various infrastructure projects aimed at rectifying these issues. The daily demand in the Suva-Nausori corridor currently reaches 173 million liters, exceeding the available supply. However, the $40 million Viria Water Treatment Plant, which is expected to add an additional 40 million liters per day, represents a significant step towards overcoming this shortfall and accommodating future population growth.
Additionally, the Princes Road Water Infrastructure Project promises improvements specifically for elevated areas like Tamavua, Tacirua, and Khalsa Road by replacing the current pumping system with a gravity-fed system that enhances resilience during high turbidity conditions. Key features of this project include a 1.43km gravity pipeline, a 5.72km rising main pipeline, and two steel tank reservoirs, each capable of holding five million liters.
Residents are hopeful that these developments will finally resolve years of unreliable water supply, bringing much-needed relief to the community. This proactive approach by local authorities indicates that the future may hold better water security for Tamavua and Namadi residents, fostering an optimistic outlook for the community’s daily life and overall well-being.
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