Residents of Samoan settlement in Wailekutu, Lami, are calling on the Water Authority of Fiji for answers as they have been facing water disruptions for nearly a month.
57-year-old resident Susan Peters is using the nearby creek to do their family laundry, highlighting the severe water shortage that has plagued her household.
Since January 2nd, Peters and her family of 12—including six adults, six children, a bedridden husband, and her 88-year-old mother, have been without reliable water supply.
She says that their home is located on elevated ground and is being fed by Savura Creek in Wailoku.
She also says they have been severely affected due to low water pressure and an unstable supply from the local reservoir.
She adds that the family relies on a 5,000-litre water tank that is not connected to their house
Insert: check on water 28th Jan 26 PT
Despite lodging several complaints with the Water Authority, Peters says the only responses received have pointed to high turbidity and low reservoir levels with no clear solution or timeline for restoring consistent supply.
While residents on lower ground are still receiving water, elevated households like hers continue to struggle, forcing them to use untreated creek water for washing and basic hygiene, raising serious health and safety concerns.
The lack of water has made everyday life extremely difficult.
Peters says the family is struggling to care for her sick husband and elderly mother, manage laundry, and maintain proper sanitation.
She says that before January 2nd, water ran perfectly fine but now they are forced to come to the creek for their laundry and basic needs.
Peters is urging the Water Authority to act urgently, communicate clearly, and ensure that all residents, especially the sick, elderly, and those living in elevated areas, have fair access to safe, clean water.
WAF says that residents in parts of the Central Eastern Division, including Tamavua, Lami, and Upper Toorak, are experiencing disruptions to their water supply due to a mechanical fault at the Savura pumps.
They add that the fault has resulted in reduced production at the Tamavua Water Treatment Plant, affecting several high-elevation areas.
Affected locations include Tamavua WTP feeder areas such as Wailekutu in Lami, Wailoku, Namadi Heights, Princess Road, Waimanu Road, Samabula, and Lakeba Street.
Other areas supplied by the Nagatugatu, Tacirua, Dokanaisuva, Colo-i-Suva, and Nasinu reservoirs are also experiencing low water pressure or complete supply disruptions.
The Authority has advised that the disruption will continue until further notice.
Water carting truck has been deployed to assist affected communities.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
