Years of struggling to access a reliable water supply are easing for the Yasiyasi community in Nadi following the completion of a new borehole, which is now providing clean and reliable water to around six households and more than 30 community members.
The project was supported by the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts through the Multi-Ethnic Community Development Grant.
Community representative Krishna Kumar says the borehole marks an important change for families who have faced water shortages for generations.
Kumar says residents previously depended on water supplied by the Water Authority of Fiji, but when the supply ran out, they had to travel several kilometres to collect water.
He says most residents are farmers, and community members would travel more than three to four kilometres with drums on bullock carts to collect water for drinking, cooking and other household needs.
Kumar says women also had to travel to a nearby river to wash clothes, while the lack of a reliable water supply affected families who depended on backyard gardens.
He says families could mainly plant during the rainy season, but with the borehole now completed, residents will be able to use the water for both household needs and their gardens.
He says the water problem has existed since he was born and was also faced by his grandparents.
He thanked the Ministry for supporting the community through the borehole project.
