Filtration System to be installed at the Savura Pump Station to mitigate constant blockage – Ro Filipe

With Fiji entering the cyclone season and natural disasters such as floods becoming frequent, causing headaches to the supply of clean water to thousands of residents living in the Tamavua, Tacirua and Samabula areas, the Ministry of Public Works is looking to install the Coanda Filtration system at the Savura Pump Station to mitigate the constant blockage by February next year.

Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau says the proposed Tamavua Clarifier at the Tamavua Water Treatment Plant, once commissioned, will improve the Treatment Plant's capacity to treat high turbidity events and ensure water supply reliability is enhanced during inclement weather conditions.

He says the Tamavua Clarifier funding is supposed to be re-submitted under the 2025/2026 National Budget submission, but he will fast-track this earlier.

Ro Filipe says the tender documents have been developed and will be advertised soon with an estimated cost of $10 million.

He adds this should have been done earlier, but they are working on it.

The Minister says in the interim, they have invested in chemicals such as Polymer, PAC, etc, to mitigate the impact of high turbidity at Tamavua.

He says their capacity to maintain inflow is also hampered by the constant blocking of the Cascade dam at the Savura Pump Station during this period of high rainfall and the time it takes for their team to be able to safely dive to clear the debris during high flood levels.

Ro Filipe says they will need to install a Coanda Filtration System, and the Ministry of Finance, via the Special Climate Change Fund, through the Global Environment Fund, is in the process of securing a grant of USD$35 million.

He adds the design, build and implementation are projected to commence in February 2025.

The Minister says the Coanda Filtration System is the solution to the constant blocking of the Cascade and Savura intakes, which reduces inflow into the Tamavua Water Treatment Plant.

He says the coalition government is serious about solving Suva’s Water Woes in a systematic and credible manner despite the many challenges.