The challenge for WAF is that it is producing beyond its capacity – Usamate

Minister for Infrastructure, Jone Usamate says the challenge for Water Authority of Fiji is that it is producing way over their built capacity that they were designed for but old pipes are being replaced and new projects are being implemented to address water issues however, SODELPA MP Aseri Radrodro and National Federation Party President, Pio Tikoduadua says the privatisation and reforms are not working.

While responding to Usamate’s Ministerial Statement on the Authority and its projects, Tikoduadua says it has been 11 years since the reforms and privatisation but it is not working so the Minister needs more power.

He says the Authority needs new ideas and a new head and if the ideas do not change then the same problems will occur in the next 11 years.

Radrodro says since WAF became a reformed entity in 2010, the people of this nation, despite reassurances are continuously being inundated by water shortages sometimes for days, for weeks and even for months and sadly this is mainly for urban areas.

He also says that the Minister is only concentrating on Suva but what is happening in Nasinu to Nausori corridor and Navua and Pacific Harbour corridor.

Usamate says supply is expected to improve for the greater Suva area next year after the commissioning of the Rewa River Water Supply Scheme.

The Minister has also highlighted that 21 water systems were affected due to Cyclones Yasa and Ana and heavy rainfall caused very high turbidity and debris resulting in major system blockages.

He says for Suva area, a decreased water production was experienced in Waila and Tamavua Treatment Plant from 5,292 million litres produced in December last year to 4,872 million litres in January while in Labasa, production dropped from 623 million litres in December to 464 million litres in January.

The Minister has also highlighted that 6,301 million litres of water was carted to households in the greater Suva area between December 2020 to February 2021 and 10,250 million litres of water was carted to residents in Labasa.

He says that Suva has experienced around 263 disruptions in the past three months and Labasa had 159 water disruptions.

The Minister also says that in 2010 there were only 126,794 households in Fiji that was connected to the Authority’s reticulation system and by January 2021, the numbers has risen by 15% to 145,256 households and this excludes commercial connections.

Usamate says over the past 10 years, rural to urban drift has increased the urban population dramatically where 55.9% of Fiji’s population resides in urban areas and many new informal settlements are springing up in urban areas.

He says the challenge is that WAF is producing way over their built capacity that it was designed for.