More than 82 percent of water losses in Fiji are concentrated within the country’s major urban water systems, as efforts continue to reduce non-revenue water levels nationwide.
While responding to Opposition MP Vijay Nath, Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau says that the current national level of non-revenue water stands at 47 percent, noting that while this remains high, there has been a gradual reduction from around 50 percent over the past three years.
He explains that the bulk of these losses are coming from key supply networks in urban areas,
highlighting the need for a targeted and strategic approach rather than a nationwide blanket solution.
Insert: Area losses of water 28th April 26
Ro Filipe says the issue is largely driven by ageing infrastructure, increasing demand, and years of underinvestment, which continue to place pressure on the system managed by the Water Authority of Fiji.
He adds that government is now shifting towards a performance-based model, beginning with the Suva system, where work is already underway to improve efficiency.
This includes leak detection, pipe repairs, system automation, and identifying critical infrastructure for replacement.
The Minister says the programme is designed not only to reduce water loss but also to build internal capacity within WAF, ensuring long-term sustainability once external support phases out.
He confirms that under this initiative, a 20 percent reduction target over the next five years has been set within the pilot area, with plans to extend the model to other major systems if successful.
During discussions, MPs including Vijay Nath and Jone Usamate raised concerns about the pace of progress, questioning whether more significant improvements should have been achieved.
However, Ro Filipe maintains that while progress may appear slow, incremental gains are being made, and long-term structural challenges require sustained and systematic intervention.
He stresses that addressing non-revenue water remains a key national priority, with the current strategy focused on delivering measurable results where the impact will be greatest.
