Water infrastructure will have to be replaced but we do not have enough money - Usamate

Minister for Infrastructure, Jone Usamate says over time, some of the water infrastructure will have to be replaced but they do not have enough money as it is to do with anything and everything at once and it has to be done in phases.

He says as they do all the time, they have made submissions for the Revised National Budget and the budget for the new financial year but it will depend on the Ministry of Economy as they will be looking at all the needs of the government and then decide what can be given in this mini budget and what they can then push for in the budget for the new financial year which starts in August.

While responding to questions by fijivillage on water issues faced by thousands of people along the Suva to Nausori corridor, Usamate says the Viria Project is going to be the solution in terms of the quantity of water.

He says the capacity to supply in the Suva-Lami area is less than the demand so they need more water to come into the system.

The Minister says the Water Authority of Fiji also needs to address reducing the non-revenue water issue which is water that comes into the system and is leaked out and is not paid for.

Usamate says those two things will address the amount of water that is available in the system to get to people and it is going to take a bit of time to be able to do that.

He adds they hope the Viria Project will come online in 2023.

He says they will have to test it out and make sure the amount of water addresses the needs in Tebara, Tailevu, Rewa and the Suva area.

Usamate further says they have also invested in tanks and reservoirs.