Water authority repairs damaged water systems in rural communities

Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) is giving assistance to non-metered residents, to repair their damaged water systems left after the destruction by Tropical Cyclone Winston.

Water Authority of Fiji, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Opetaia Ravai in a statement said water is a basic necessity and will be accessible to everyone.

WAF is not only assisting its customers but also non-metered residents, especially in rural villages and communities, so that everyone can have access to the basic necessity, clean, safe drinking water.

It is also heartening to see ‘Rural Water Committees’ taking ownership of their schemes and being proactive in carrying out cyclone damage repairs.

One such village is Vanuakula in the Ra Highlands, where, for about two weeks after the cyclone, the destruction of the village rural water project saw villagers to resorting to creeks and rivers for washing, cooking and drinking water because of the lack of proper piped water supply.

During that time, the village men of all ages, some of whom donated pipes and nails, worked long hours alongside members of the WAF team to repair the damaged water system.

Head of the Vanuakula Water Committee, Mr Tevita Navada, said they had to walk about five kilometres daily to the dam site to clear the debris and to make temporary maintenance repairs to the pipeline damaged by falling trees and boulders.

Thankfully, WAF stepped in to assist us with the temporary maintenance repair works. Piped water was restored to the 83 village households last Tuesday (8th March). We are in the process of asking the relevant authorities for assistance in finding a permanent solution to the consistent supply of clean water to the village.