Low water level in Waimanu River continues to affect residents in Tamavua, Namadi Heights and Princes Road

Residents in Tamavua, Namadi Heights and those living along Princes Road are raising concerns about no water supply for the past three days while Water Authority of Fiji says water level in Waimanu River remains low.

A resident from Tamavua says they have had to rely on their friend’s generosity for their basic needs.

She says for WAF to say that supply is being disrupted because of low level in Waimanu River is ridiculous as Suva gets a lot more rain compared to other parts of the world.

When contacted, WAF says residents living in the Lami-Suva-Nausori continue to be affected by critical water level at Waimanu River which is the main source of water for Tamavua and Waila Water Treatment plants.

WAF Chief Operating Officer, Seru Soderberg had said that the dry weather conditions experienced in March are continuing to date, and have resulted in low raw water extraction due to falling river levels.

He says for March, rainfall recorded in Suva and Nausori was well below the historical level of 440mm with total rainfall for Suva registered at 157.2mm and Nausori 140.4mm.

Soderberg says since 14th of March any rainfall received has been below the minimum daily requirement of 6mm to replenish river flows.

He says a direct result of the inflow shortage is reduced supply of treated water, causing the intermittent water supply to no water situations for valued customers.

The COO had said on Thursday that the Waimanu River is critical sitting at 0.6m impacting Waimanu and Waila raw water pump station intake capacity.

WAF says they are working to install a temporary coffer dam to sustain water levels in the river allowing their pumps to continue operating.

WAF has yet to provide an update on levels in Waimanu River.

He is requesting customers to save water and use it sparingly, as the delivery of clean and safe drinking water is a priority for WAF.

Soderberg is urging members of the public to please practice water conservation in their homes and at the workplaces, as they need to work together to manage this finite resource, particularly at this time.

The Authority urges customers in the Lami-Suva-Nausori corridor to avoid water usage for car washing, watering of plants and gardens, irrigation of new turf, topping up of swimming pools, and washing of hard surfaces, like driveways and footpaths during this dry spell.