94% of households in Central Division receive consistent 24-hour water supply - Ro Filipe

About 94 percent of households in the Central Division, or 81,906 metered connections, currently receive a consistent 24-hour water supply.

This has been confirmed by the Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau in their response to Opposition MP Vijay Nath’s question in Parliament on water supply in the Central Division.

Ro Filipe says certain areas that experience intermittent disruptions primarily due to factors such as leakages resulting from ageing infrastructure, limitations in water production capacity, and the impacts of adverse weather events.

He says heavy rainfall can increase turbidity levels in raw water sources, reduce treatment plant efficiency, cause flooding and debris damage to intake systems and pipelines, restrict access for repair teams, and result in pressure fluctuations and reduced reservoir levels, particularly in elevated areas.

The areas affected include Tamavua, Sakoca, Nagatugatu, Dokanaisuva, Tacirua, and Colo-i-Suva.

Ro Filipe says to address these challenges, the Elevated Princess Road Project which involves the construction of an 11.7 kilometre transmission pipeline from Sawani to Colo-i-Suva and Khalsa Road, supported by a new pump station and two 5-megalitre reservoirs, is currently underway.

The Minister says once completed, this project will significantly improve system pressure and overall supply reliability in these elevated communities.

He says the planned 20-megalitre Tamavua Modular Water Treatment Plant, with an estimated cost of $12 million, will complement the existing Tamavua Water Treatment Plant.

Ro Filipe says this initiative will provide a more reliable and resilient water supply to residents of Suva, Lami, and parts of Nasinu.

He says the project is expected to be completed later this year, following which these elevated areas are anticipated to receive a continuous 24-hour water supply.

Ro Filipe adds the Government remains firmly committed to improving service delivery and ensuring that all households in the Central Division have access to safely managed, reliable, and continuous water supply.