People urged to store water

The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) is apologising to its customers living in some parts of Suva-Nausori area and those in surrounding Labasa areas who have been facing water disruptions for the past few weeks.

Extensive repair works undertaken to filters at Water Authority of Fiji's Waila Water Treatment Plant in Nausori has led to water disruptions in areas along the Suva Nausorui corridor.

As a result, residents living in these areas have been facing intermittent supply and low water pressure, which will continue for the next few days.

WAF director Kamal Gounder said the recent adverse raw water quality that has affected the filtration rate at the water treatment plant was reason for the low water levels.

Disruptions were due to the electrical failure at the Waila Water Treatment Plant. This happened due a damaged cable between the raw water intake and the Treatment Plant.

“This was rectified and water treatment is back to normalcy. However, WAF is still facing an additional challenge at the Waila Water Treatment Plant which has been receiving high level of silt in the clear media filters.

WAF crews were working around-the-clock to clean sand filters and this would continue until the flow rate was normalised.

“Further to the problems faced at Suva, the water supply in Labasa was partially disrupted due to a pipe burst occurred under the river at Dorugu. This was rectified by laying a new pipe under the river and water supply is back to normal”.

Mr Gounder has assured the Suva and Labasa residents that water carts were on standby to service the affected areas. “WAF urges people in the affected areas to store water supplied by water carting trucks for their immediate needs and to use water wisely,” said Mr Gounder.