PM says this level of water cuts would not have happened if repairs were done

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says if repair works were being done for the roads and our water systems by the previous administration, we would not suffer in the way things are happening today.

Speaking in the i-Taukei language, Rabuka says it’s true that a lot of people have expressed their grievances regarding the low to no water supply and the bad road conditions in the country.

He says the amount of rain in Fiji three weeks ago was way above average.

The Prime Minister says the pipes and roads that got damaged were constructed about 50 years ago, and nowadays, when there is little rain, the pipes and roads are damaged.

Meanwhile, thousands of residents in Tamavua, Samabula and Lami are facing water cuts due to raw water intake blockages from yesterday.

The affected areas: Low Pressure to No Water - all feeding from Tamavua Reservoir, Namadi Heights, Princes Road, Samabula area, Bureta Street, Rewa Street, Ratu Sukuna Road, Nailuva Road, Delainavesi, elevated areas in Lami, Panaromic, Waiqanake and Togalevu, Wrong Turn, Sakoca, Upper Khalsa, Tacirua Heights, Nagatugatu residents next to the Reservoir, Tamavua Village, Upper Ragg Avenue, Deovji Street, Tacirua Bus, Amputch Street, Seventh Day Church Dokanaisuva to Tacirua Fijian School, Vunuleba Settlement, Naisogo, Colo-i-Suva Crest Chicken, Marshall Road, Taqairua, Vunikawai, Uluibeka, Colanaivau, Valesasa, Naitaqiri Nillgrey. An execution plan is needed by the government for our ageing water infrastructure.

The Water Authority of Fiji has been working around the clock to deal with prolonged issues including blockages and burst mains almost every single day now.

This has been exacerbated due to a serious lack of investment and developments in our infrastructure.

When contacted on the latest disruption from yesterday, WAF Chief Operating Officer, Seru Soderberg says their team managed to carry out diving at Savura at 2:30 this morning.

Soderberg confirms that the inflow has increased from 40 million litres to 61 million litres a day.

He says the duty operations team is verifying areas still affected this morning.