People in the Lami-Suva-Nausori corridor requested to save water and use it sparingly

People living in the Lami-Suva-Nausori corridor are requested to save water and use it sparingly due to reduced raw water levels in the Waimanu River, which is the main source of water for Tamavua and Waila Water Treatment plants.

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

Soderberg 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.

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

Soderberg also says their hydrology reports suggest that over the last 3 days, Waimanu River flow has dropped by 80 million litres per day.

He also says as 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.

Soderberg highlighted that currently, the Waimanu River is critical sitting at 0.6m impacting Waimanu and Waila raw water pump station intake capacity.

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

Soderberg also says according to weather reports, the receding level at Waimanu, Waila, Savura Creek, Savura Cascade and Headworks 3 are expected to continue for the next seven days.