If you are facing water disruptions every few days a week in Tamavua, Tacirua and parts of Samabula, you may continue to face this situation for upto 24 months as the pipeline from Nausori through Sawani to these areas will take time.
Minister for Public Works, Ro Filipe Tuisawau says he has spoken to the Water Authority of Fiji and they have been told to respond quickly.
Ro Filipe says they are reassessing the turbidity issues, and they need to upgrade to the latest technology.
He says they are putting that as a priority and taking it to cabinet as it needs extra funding.
Water issues due to turbidity and low pressure plaguing the Suva area have now escalated to the point where it is affecting patients at the CWM Hospital.
People are raising concerns that the turbidity issue has been used for years, and are asking what is being done to fix this, and when will the water woes end.
Many residents have contacted us from Tamavua, Tacirua and Samabula areas, saying they are fed up of these excuses, and when will a solution be found.
WAF says the heavy rain experienced over the last couple of days have affected fresh water production at the Treatment Plants due to turbidity issues, which is resulting in low water pressure as well.
Some people say this is a very dangerous trend now at the hospital as it is affecting not just hygiene issues at the hospital but also surgeries that have to be put on hold because of the lack of water.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad says there is enough money put into the Water Authority of Fiji for the last two budgets, particularly the last budget.
Professor Prasad says the expectation is that these entities will be able to work through those budgets and ensure that they deliver the services they are required to deliver.
He said this while responding to questions by fijivillage News if enough funds are given to WAF saying as far as they are concerned, there is sufficient funding to do what WAF is required to do at the moment.
Professor Prasad says they understand that a lot of the water infrastructure, particularly the pipes are old as there was hardly any investment over the last 20 or 30 years to change that.
He says he is aware of the turbidity issues being faced by WAF.
Professor Prasad says due to climate change impacts, the frequency of rain, the intensity of rain, and the flooding is damaging the infrastructure.
The Deputy Prime Minister says the government is focused in making sure that these are fixed, while it may not happen overnight, but WAF along with the government, the respective ministry, public works, and the minister have been working very hard to ensure that they are able to not only source additional funding, but also put in a strategy so that they do not have this problem and that it causes inconvenience to a lot of people.
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