Water restrictions are now in force for people living along the Lami-Suva-Nausori corridor due to low water level at the Waimanu River.
Effective immediately as of today, water usage for car washing, watering of plants and gardens, irrigation of new turf, topping up of swimming pools and washing of hard surfaces like driveways and footpaths is prohibited during this dry spell.
WAF CEO Dr. Amit Chanan says the dry weather conditions experienced in March are continuing to date, and have resulted in low raw water extraction due to falling river levels at the Waimanu River.
Dr. Chanan says a direct result of the inflow shortage is a reduced supply of treated water, causing the intermittent water supply to no water situations for valued customers.
He says the wet season long term average (2012 to 2022) flow at Waimanu is 883.77 million liter per day, but for March and April 2023 the average flow decreased to 281.69 million liter per day.
The CEO says similar to the water level, the long-term wet season average (2012 to 2022) was 1.06 metres but for March and April 2023 this has decreased to 0.6 metre which is lower than the minimum 0.8 metre threshold level required for raw water pumps to operate.
Dr. Chanan says therefore, customers are requested to save water and use it sparingly, as the delivery of clean and safe drinking water is a priority for WAF.
He adds they are urging members of the public to take the necessary steps to conserve water and please practice water conservation in their homes and at the workplaces, as we need to work together to manage this finite resource, particularly at this time.
