Suva-Nausori water issues will be resolved within 18 months - Ro Filipe

Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau is confident that over the next 18 months and by the end of the four-year term of the Coalition Government, the major water issues of Suva-Nausori, Tamavua and Sakoca areas will be just memories of the past.

While responding to the President’s speech in Parliament today, Ro Filipe says the Tamavua Water Treatment Plant has a capacity of 60 million litres per day but is currently operating at 75 million litres per day to meet growing demand.

He says the Water Authority of Fiji, has developed a comprehensive strategy which includes the installation of a trash boom at the Savura Intake, bypass pumping systems to improve management flow management at the Tamavua Treatment Plant and maximizing chemical intervention.

Ro Filipe says the major upcoming improvement projects also include the Sawani to Colo-i-Suva pipeline, pump station, and reservoir project.

He says the tender has been approved and the contractor is expected to commence work next month.

The Minister confirms the project is estimated to take 12 to 18 months at a cost of $35 million.

Ro Filipe also says the other improvement includes the new 20 million litres per day water treatment plant, and this is expected to tender this month, and they are targeting groundworks to start in August this year.

He says a contractor has been assigned to reduce non-revenue water.

Ro Filipe confirms WAF has successfully reduced non-revenue water from 47 percent to 45 percent, marking progress in leak control and efficient usage which translates into millions of liters saved daily.

While providing an update on the work of the Public Works Department, the Minister says they have already purchased $2.6 million worth of heavy machinery to assist development.

He says some of the works completed or currently in progress includes Naisogo Road access connecting the Davuilevu and Colo-i-Suva, 2.5km Naiserelagi to Nalawa Road in Ra, Nalidi Village Road upgrade in the Western Division, Nasele Road upgrade, Lea Road upgrade in the Northern Division, 31km Vanuabalavu Road upgrades, Matuku Road upgrades, and of course will continue towards Rotuma.

He adds the re-establishment of the Department of National Roads is also one of the main reform objectives moving forward.