Water recovery works in Suva could go into the weekend - Soderberg

The Water Authority of Fiji says work is expected to start soon at the ruptured trunk main caused by a landslip along Savura Road in Wailoku and the expected recovery will take into the weekend, weather permitting.

WAF Chief Operating Officer Seru Soderberg says they hope to complete repairs and get the water supply situation normalised as soon as possible.

This fault will impact everyone supplied by the Tamavua Water Treatment Plant which include Namadi Heights, Upper and Lower Ragg Avenue, Princes Road, Tamavua Village, Savura Road, Narain Road, Wailoku Road, the Samabula area, Bureta Street, Rewa Street, Ratu Sukuna Road, Nailuva Road, Reservoir Road, the entire Walu Bay area, Delainavesi, all of Lami, Waiqanake, and Togalevu.

Soderberg says their team has conducted assessments overnight on the damages to the DN600 raw water trunk main outlet along Savura Road to the Tamavua Water Treatment Plant, and while the adjoining raw water main is intact, they cannot utilise it until the site is stabilised.

He says once the repairs are completed they will begin production gradually, to recover the system and get the water supply normalised.

Soderberg says repairs to the broken trunk main are subject to the stabilization of the site as it is currently saturated with water and unsafe for operating excavators.

He adds their current focus is to ensure supply to the CWM Hospital and all available water is being supplied to the hospital.

Meanwhile, 50 water tankers have been engaged to provide relief to six affected zones that have been impacted by the current water disruptions. WAF says their teams have started serving clean drinking water to the affected areas, and they will continue on a 24-hour roster until pipeline repairs along Savura Road are completed. They are also urging customers in affected areas to save and store water when water tankers deliver water to their areas. Ten water trucks will serve Nailuva Road, Ratu Sukuna Road, Princes Road, Tamavua Village, Rewa Street, Lekutu Street, Delanavesi, Lami, Panaromic, Waiqanake, and Togalevu. Ten water trucks will provide water to Sakoca, Wrong Turn, Upper Khalsa, Tacirua Heights, Nukuboco, Nagatugatu and nearby areas. Ten trucks will serve the areas of Tamavua Village, Upper Ragg Avenue, Deoji Street, Tacirua Bus garage, Amputuch, Princes Road, LDS, Twomey and Bel Air Road. Ten trucks will provide relief to the Seventh Day Church, Tacirua Fijian School, Vunuleba Settlement, Opposite Jeremiah College, and the roundabout at Baljit Shop. Five trucks will provide water to Naisogo, Crest Chicken, Rain Forest, Marshall Road, Taqairua, Vunikawai, Uluibeka, Colanivau and Nilgrey. Ten trucks will serve the areas of Ratu Sukuna Road, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Muanikau, Laucala Bay, Domain, McGregor Road, Amy Street, Spring Street, High Street, Brown Street, Hospital, Nasese and Toorak Road.

WAF says the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) will stabilise the area, and once completed, it will allow them to switch over to the pipe that was not damaged by landslide capacity and will remain well below the required volumes and raw water.