People in Namara Tailevu continue to drink unsafe water for more than 3 decades

People in the Tikina of Namara in Tailevu continue to drink unsafe water for more than three decades, and are calling on the government to assist them with their water supply.

Mesulame Tuigau from Namara says collecting rainwater is unsafe as they find bird and rat droppings in the water.

Tuigau is making a plea to the coalition government to address the issue.

Naisausau Village Spokesperson Anare Leweniqila says during the prolonged dry season they find it difficult to have sufficient drinking water.

He says they have been provided with water tanks but it still does not cater for all the villagers.

He adds they have raised this issue during the district meetings for more than three decades, but nothing has been done.

The Water Authority of Fiji says 128 rainwater tanks have been delivered to the district of Namara.

They say after the Tailevu Provincial Council meeting last year, Naisausau Village received water tanks and each household was given a rainwater harvesting tank.

WAF says according to community members the tanks have been helpful towards their water needs.

The Authority says Tubalevu Village has their operational borehole, Matamaivere Village has also been assisted with the rainwater harvest initiative whereby only 3 applications were received and the tanks have been delivered.

Nakalawaca Village has also been assisted with the rainwater harvest initiative whereby 15 applications were received and tanks delivered, Naikawaga Village received water tanks, and Nakorolevu Village was assisted with the rainwater harvest initiative and tanks were also delivered to the village.

They say this initiative had been available to the Tikina Namara since 2016 with awareness and consultations done.

They say the Tikina Namara at the moment is identified as a rural water system.

They add the community is eligible to apply for the rain water harvesting tank initiative, and forms are available at any of their customer services offices that are near them.

Apart from the rainwater harvest tank initiative, the rural water carting fortnightly schedule includes the Tikina Namara.

WAF says through the fortnightly water carting schedule each requesting household is provided with 2,000 litres.