Tukavesi villagers benefit from new $176k water project
Four hundred villagers of Tukavesi, Natewa in Cakaudrove, Vanua Levu, now have access to piped drinking water after the completion of their Rural Water Project.
The previous system, which was constructed in 2008, experienced major leakages in the piping network and a complete replacement of the reticulation in the village, as well as requested Government stations.
The $176,046 project, which was outsourced by the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) to Taviraki Building and Civil Works Limited, saw the laying of 800 lengths (4.5km) of 50mm and 150 lengths (1km) of 15mm of PVC pipes, and 8 coils of 20mm polythene pipes along trenched paths.
WAF Chief Operating Officer, Mr Samanmal Ekanayake, reiterated that the outsourcing model the Authority is implementing empowers the community by paying the water committee for the village support required during the water project. “This empowers the Water Committee to be responsible for ongoing maintenance and repairs, thus ensuring the longevity and sustainability of their village water supply system. This also builds the local capacity of contractors to undertake water supply construction work. For this project, the village water committee will receive $6,629 as payment for the village assistance provided,” said Mr Ekanayake.
Mr Ekanayake said the villagers now enjoy a consistent supply of water and an improved water system performance, which is reliable, and a water source, which can withstand dry seasons. Former Tukavesi Village Headman, Aisake Leqeua said he was thankful to the Water Authority of Fiji for the project.
“For the last three years, a youth and I had to close and open the valve in order to have water in the village and prevent the school (Kama District School) from closing and keep our children in school,” he said.