Water Authority board members inspect leaking valve
“Lautoka will not be affected – it will only be the outskirts of the Lautoka area, but the Nadi area and the hotels around Nadi will be the major group affected, and domestic customers of the Lautoka Central Business District (CBD),” said WAF board direct
The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) board members, Kamal Gounder and Bhavesh Patel, recently visited the Nagado Water Treatment Plant in Nadi to see that preparations and plans put in place for the upcoming major water disruption for Nadi and Lautoka, scheduled for next month (February 3-6, 2018).
WAF’s Chief Operating Officer, Samanmal Ekanayake, and Regional Manager Western Division, Romulusi Mataitoga, updated board members on the progress of plans for the water shutdown. “We have visited the site where the leaking Vanessa Valve is situated – it is getting worse every day, so repair works need to be carried out that will cause the scheduled closure for the four days,” said WAF Board Director Kamal Gounder.
“A lot of preparation has already happened. We met with the contractor, Eliza Engineering, who have all the teams set up for the repair works to be carried out. They will also conduct twenty-four-hour shifts for repairing and the requirements identified by WAF, and the Water Authority is also prepared with water carting trucks ready to serve.”
Mr Gounder said some areas would still have normal water supply during the shutdown, with water supplied from the Buabua and Saru Water Treatment Plants.
“Lautoka will not be affected – it will only be the outskirts of the Lautoka area, but the Nadi area and the hotels around Nadi will be the major group affected, and domestic customers of the Lautoka Central Business District (CBD),” Mr Gounder said.
“The Lautoka Hospital will be supplied through the Buabua and Saru Water Treatment Plants. Both treatment plants will be able to meet the demand for the Lautoka CBD and hospital.
“We have spoken to the Nadi Hospital. They already have water tanks in place, which the Water Authority will refill before the shutdown happens, so there will also be backups, in terms of the Denarau area – all water tanks will be filled up.
“Preparations for schools – most schools that will be affected have backup water tanks so Water Authority’s water carting trucks will ensure that the tanks are filled. There are some schools that do not have water tanks, and WAF will install 5,000 and 10,000-litre water tanks in these schools, depending on the school roll and demand. “Domestic customers are asked to store up sufficient water supply during the planned disruption period. In addition, WAF will be placing 100 water tanks in strategic locations; these are 5,000 and 10,000 litre tanks.”
The meeting consisted of representatives from the hotels in Denarau Island, including Sofitel Fiji Resort, Tanoa International, Mercure Hotels, Hexagon International, Double Tree Resort and Fiji Marriott Resort.