Years of foul odor angers residents
RESIDENTS of Narere in Nasinu are grappling with a pressing sewage issue that has plagued the community for years.
Resident Edward Thaggard said the community was frustrated by the authorities’ failure to fix the problem of the sewer-contaminated water and persistent foul odor, especially during rainfall.
“Every week I have to call 5777, but nothing concrete has been done, even when we’ve raised it with the Nasinu Town Council,” Mr Thaggard said.
“When it rains, the sewage water floods right under our house, causing a real health hazard. And during this hot season, we have had to close our doors and windows, blocking out any wind just to avoid the foul odor.
“All of it comes through to our dalo patch and affects our crops.”
In response, Nasinu
Town Council chair-special administrator Felix Magnus said the residents have notified them of the issue.
“And we have informed the Water Authority of Fiji,” Mr Mangus said.
“The issue basically is that the pumps have given up due to all the other materials jamming them up, such as singlets, towels and other debris.”
Mr Thaggard, however, isn’t convinced by the council’s response, saying “more than six years now and this issue still hasn’t been solved”.
“We have had officials come sometimes, but they just come, look and go, they don’t do anything.
“Why did it take years for the Nasinu Town Council or any government body to respond?”
Mr Mangus responded by claiming that under the former government’s control, the town council likely faced bureaucratic hurdles, but with the election of a new government, there has been a shift in governance processes, enabling the town council to address issues promptly and effectively.
He assured residents the council was working closely with the Water Authority to rectify the situation.
“As we speak, the Water Authority has been alerted, and there is a team currently at the site,” Mr Magnus said.
“We ask residents to exercise caution about what they dispose of in the sewage system, especially towels and clothing items. We also urge them to cooperate with the Water Authority’s instructions.
Asked for a timeline for resolving the issue, Mr Magnus said it would depend on the Water Authority’s actions.
“We have informed them to address it immediately because it is a resident concern.
“We are not in control of the Water Authority’s timeline, but we are committed to facilitating the resolution process and ensuring that residents’ concerns are addressed promptly.”