WAF warns factories and people against throwing waste into their waterways

A factory has been suspected of discharging rags causing blockages in Water Authority of Fiji water pumps in Labasa while they have also found plastic blocking pipes in Delainavesi, Lami.

The Water Authority of Fiji says those who are found throwing rubbish into water and drainage systems can face charges and be fined as they are exploring legal avenues to take them to task.

As a result of the rags found in a water pump in Labasa, the Water Authority of Fiji had to remove that water pump, clear the rags and then re-install it.

WAF adds that they found rubbish blocking a fire hydrant which greatly contributed to the water disruptions being faced by residents of Naisogoluvu in Delainavesi, Lami last week.

They say ground teams cleared plastics, plastic bottles and other waste from the hydrant to help alleviate the issue.

CEO Barry Omundson says they are disappointed with some irresponsible people who continue to throw rubbish into water and drainage systems, causing blockages which then affect the water supply to the entire community.

He says unwanted materials flushed into the system continue choking pumps including fats, oils, and grease from restaurants.

Omundson says their teams continue to respond to water disruption 24 hours a day and time and again they are finding rubbish, fats, oils, and grease causing blockages and disruptions.

He says while they do their best to ensure that Fijians receive clean water and proper wastewater sanitation services, it is also the duty of the people to ensure that they dispose of their waste in the right places.

The CEO is urging people to scrape grease and food scraps from trays, plates, pots, pans, utensils, grills and cooking surfaces into a metal can or kitchen trash.

He says if there is grease left in a pot or skillet after cooking, let it cool and then pour into a metal can and when the can is full, simply throw it in the kitchen trash.

Omundson adds that cool and strain out any particles of leftover food then use a small funnel to pour the oil back into the original container for reuse as oil can be kept for up to 6 months and reused for up to 6 hours of fry time.

He adds that people can also soak up excess oil with newspaper and then place it in the trash.