People may need to store water for at least 5 to 7 days - WAF

The Water Authority of Fiji says during a worst-case scenario, people may need to store water for at least 5 to 7 days as major damage to infrastructure will take some time to repair.

Chief Operating Officer Seru Soderberg says this is because severe damages to infrastructure is a possibility due to flooding and destructive winds associated with a category 5 cyclone.

Soderberg also says that blockages in the clarifier are usually due to high levels of turbidity and unfortunately if there is heavy rain then filters will get clogged.

However, he says they are currently conducting valve operations to get their reservoir levels as healthy as possible in anticipation of Tropical Cyclone Yasa.

Soderberg says this will enable them to sustain supply to people if there is a burst main and will give them enough time to fix the issue while customers continue to receive water.

He says they are also in the process of installing generator sets at all their critical water stations and areas which do not have generators will have bailing trucks to cater for any overflow.

Soderberg adds they are load testing which means they are putting the entire power requirements on the generator to ensure that it works.