Public warned to avoid Nabua stream after toxic discharge kills eels

Toxic discharge from an underground culvert near the Nabua Sewerage Pump Station has resulted in several dead eels in the stream located beneath the Jerusalem Road bridge in Nabua, Suva and as a critical precautionary measure, the Department of Environment strongly advises the public to avoid any form of use until further notice.

The Department of Environment says they received a report at approximately 3:43pm on Tuesday that a bluish discoloration was observed at the stream located beneath the bridge.

They say officers from the Department immediately conducted a site inspection and traced the source of the discharge to an underground culvert near the Nabua Sewerage Pump Station.

The Department says after deploying drones, officers conducted an aerial survey to trace the source and assess the extent of the discharge.

The inspection confirmed that raw sewage was overflowing from the culvert and discharging directly into the stream, where it mixed with the bluish substance observed in the water.

The Department confirms that investigations have established that the Nabua Sewerage Pump Station had been non-operational since Christmas, causing sewage to back up and spill into the waterway.

They have assessed that the bluish substance was likely disposed of into the sewerage system upstream and was subsequently released into the stream as a result of the pump station failure.

The Department says they are working closely with the Water Authority of Fiji and the Suva City Council to contain the incident, assess environmental impacts, and prevent any further discharge.

They confirm the pump station has since been restored to operational status, and the bluish discoloration in the stream has dissipated naturally.

They say environmental monitoring and investigations remain ongoing.

Permanent Secretary of Environment and Climate Change, Dr Sivendra Micheal says the safety of the public and the protection of Fiji’s environment remain their top priorities.

He says they will continue to monitor the situation closely, implement corrective actions, and keep communities informed as investigations progress.

Dr Micheal adds the Department of Environment treats this incident with utmost seriousness and remains committed to safeguarding public health and Fiji’s environment.

Further questions have been sent to the Water Authority of Fiji and the Dr Micheal.