Repair works start on damaged pipeline at Princes Road

As thousands of people living in the Tamavua, Samabula, Mead Road, Nabua, Waimanu Road, Walu Bay and Lami areas face water cuts, the Water Authority of Fiji says repair works on the damaged 600mm main line along Princes Road has started, however they are yet to confirm when supply will normalise.

The Water Authority of Fiji says their teams were able to complete the dewatering of the fault site and expose the damaged pipeline to carry out the necessary damage assessment and repair works.

Meanwhile, WAF is considering taking action against the contractor that damaged the 600mm main line along Princes Road on Wednesday night.

Chief Operating Officer Seru Soderberg says the Authority is strongly considering options against the contractor for the telecommunications operator for the cost of repairs for plant and labour, water carting costs, and other expenses incurred as the result of the contractor’s negligence.

When asked what will WAF do to ensure this does not happen again in the future, Soderberg says that it must be noted that approval for road corridor access is provided by the Fiji Roads Authority.

He says WAF will work with FRA to consider reviewing and changing certain aspects of the Corridor Access Request Approval processes to factor in critical water infrastructure to ensure that these types of issues are avoided.

Residents living along Princes Road in Tamavua, Samabula, Waimanu Road, Mead Road, and Walu Bay continue to have no water from earlier this week.

This time it has also affected about 38 schools in the area, CWM Hospital and Saint Giles Hospital.

They say the water trunk line has been taken offline for repairs.

WAF is urging residents with water supply, to please store enough for their needs during the repair period and they apologize for any inconvenience caused, especially to the schools in the affected areas.

The affected areas include residents living in: - Tip Top: Ratu Mara Rd, Milo Shop - Raiwasa, Shalimar Street, Bidesi, Lewadua, Dilio, Gaji Road, Beddoes, Karan Singh, Koroi, Lagilagi Housing, Falvey, Udit Narayan Street and Aidney Road.

- Rewa Street: Kikau, Talasiga, Sese, Dhanji, Ruve Street, Lekutu Street, Buksh Street, Borron Road, Howell Road, Silimaibau, Akuila Bale, Rose, Armstrong, Alexander, Milverton, George Place, Upper Nairai, Bryce, Raisara, Cheng Place, McFarlane, Wilkinson Street, Hunter, Laucala Bay, Ratu Sukuna Road, Bau Street, Serua, Carew, Short Le Hunte, Knolly St, Marion, Dilio Street, Belo Street, Kula Street, Kaka Street, Karan Singh Road, Beddoes Street, Moti Street, Tawake Street, Matanitobua Road, Ritova Street, Kini Street, Brown Street, Augustus Street and Nailuva Road.

Waimanu Road: 15 A & 15B: Waimanu Rd, Boro, Toganivalu, Sawani, Mal Street and Extension Street.

- Mead Road: Bayview Heights, Nabua, Sukanaivalu Road, Sawau Street, Yohann Place, Vuibau Place, Sam Lal Street, Paul Sloan Street, Joyce Perks Street, Nabua Top Line, March Place, Maddocks Street, Nabua Road, Lavena Road, Pikeu Street, Finau Street, Nabua Town, Volavola Road and Evetts Place

- Samabula: Bureta Street, Tuvana Place, Tubou Street, Lakeba Street, Helsen Street, Komo Street, Aiwa Street, Naiyau Street, Sovu Place, Kabara Street, Fulaga Street, Namuka Street, Ono Street, Moala Street, Vatoa Street, Munia Street, Totoya Street.

- Walu Bay: Foster Road, Eliza Street, Syria Road, Rona Street, Sonoma Street, Leonidas Street, Argo Street, Matua Street, Amra Street, Tofua Street, Rokobili, Tamavua Road, Reservoir Road, Mavoa Road, Mali Place, Saint Giles Hospital, Uluvatu Road, Nauluvatu, Kasavu Road.

Affected schools include Samabula Primary School, Fiji National University - Samabula Campus, Suva Primary School, Gospel Primary School, Gospel High School, Suva Sangam School, Jay Narayan School, Indra Gandhi Primary School, Marist Brothers High School, Yat Sen Secondary School, Holy Trinity School, University of Fiji - Samabula School, Ariya Samaj Primary School, Marist Primary School, Neru Primary School, Hilton Special School, LDS Primary School, Fiji School of Nursing, Tamavua Primary, Jack and Jill, Nabua Primary School, Nabua Secondary School, Suva Muslim Primary, Suva Muslim Secondary, Polytech Institute, Saint Agnes Primary School and Ratu Sukuna Memorial School, Navesi Primary School, Isa Lei Secondary School, Lami SDA School - Suvavou, Lami Primary and Lami High School, Lami Convent Primary School, Chauhan Memorial School, Waiqanake Primary School, Monfort Boys Town, Saint Thomas Aquinas Primary School and Ballentine Memorial School - Delainavesi.

For some of the areas affected, they have had no water since Monday.