G

overnment vessel MV

Vatulawa is now capable of making 50,000 litres of water in one day for drinking and household use now that it has been installed with a mobile desalination plant.

The mobile desalination plant has been loaned by the Port Denarau Marina based organisation, Sea Mercy Fiji (SMF) to the Natural Disaster Management Office (NDMO) for one year.

The mobile plant with an accompanying power generator worth $100,000 was handed handed to the Minister of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu and Permanent Secretary David Kolitagane last month.

MV Vatulawa has since taken trips to Beqa, Yasawa, Mamanuca and this morning left for the Eastern division starting with Gau.

“We have loaned it to the Fijian Government until next year to assist communities living off the main islands with their water supply,”SMF president Nigel Skeggs said.

The desalination unit will assist maritime communities with water supply during emergencies through the reverse osmosis of salt water into fresh water.

Converting sea water into fresh water is now an innovative option for islands affected by pro-longed dry weather.

Over the last three years, the Ministry has spent $1.2 million through its Emergency Water supply programme to cart water from Viti Levu and Vanua Levu on barges to drought hotspots in the maritime islands.

Sea Mercy Fiji members include yacht owners (including super yachts) and ship captains who are part of the Port Denarau Marina community, Nadi.