Northern and Western regions now face critical water levels - WAF

People living in the Northern and the Western Divisions are now also urged to use water wisely as water sources are at or are fast approaching critical levels due to the dry weather conditions.

The Water Authority of Fiji says finer details on water rationing will be published in the coming days if the situation worsens.

In the Western region, WAF says the Rakiraki system has 2 of the 3 water sources on critical status in terms of flow discharge while the Lautoka system has 2 out of the 3 water sources on critical flow discharge while one is approaching critical.

They say the Vaturu Dam which supplies raw water to the Nagado Water Treatment Plant and services the Nadi water system and most of the Lautoka system is approaching critical levels.

The Sigatoka, Ba and Tavua systems continue to operate with normal flow discharge.

WAF says in the Northern Region the Wainikoro and Vunika system are operating at critical water source levels.

They say the Vunika system is being supplemented by the Benau system in Labasa while the Wainikoro system will be subject to a rationing program and water carting assistance if the situation worsens.

WAF says the Nasalasala system is approaching critical water source level and has chances of rationing in the coming weeks while all other sources are operating normally.

For the Central region, WAF says the continuous sunny weather observed within the region continues to impact the recovery of the Tamavua Water Supply System as water sources may deteriorate impacting water production which will further prompt the team to initiate water rationing to customers within the Tamavua water supply system.

They say the Tamavua water supply system continues to experience critical levels of raw water sources, for now out of the six main raw water sources (rivers and streams) where four have reached critical levels.

WAF says for the Central Eastern region, out of 20 water sources in the region, 9 have reached critical levels while 5 water sources remain normal to approaching critical status with a continuous receding trend in level and flows observed.