Addressing our water woes
The revelation that Suva residents who frequently experience water disruptions are worried about their health is a concern. Water disruptions can be just that – disruptive!
It affects families in many ways.
There is uncertainty, and great frustration. Food preparation is affected. Preparing children for school is impacted. Washrooms are affected. Washing of clothes impacted and workers are impacted when they prepare to head off for another workday.
A lot revolves around having consistent clean water supply.
Luisa Katonivere, 35, of Qauia Settlement in Lami, claimed children in the settlement were getting sick because of the lack of clean drinking water.
They were forced to get water from the river. Fellow resident Tevita Kalaulevu, 56, raised similar concerns.
Reshmi Kumar of Nukuboco Settlement along Khalsa Rd said they experienced itchiness in their throat after drinking water from the tap.
A lot comes back down to common sense and the need for us to boil drinking water from other sources.
The question though is what has been happening for decades? What were we doing all these decades to our water system?
Did we not plan for a greater population in our urban centres?
Did we ever consider that a lot of people would be moving into our urban centres, and that new houses would be built around these centres?
Did we ever consider by how much the population was set to reach in our urban centres and plan accordingly?
Why are we still dealing with this issue now, many decades later?
It appears as if nothing was done in some places over the years, and residents were probably fed up with the non-responsive powers that be! They tell stories of suffering for years. They have many tales that are slowly coming out now!
The challenge is with those in authority now to do something about this. It is unfortunate that they may have copped things on the wrong end of the stick so the speak, but people are looking up to them to address their concerns. That is a major ask we know, but it is something they have a duty to address urgently.
Water disruptions certainly aren’t good for anyone. And the average man and woman and child on the street have high expectations when it comes to clean water supply.
They just want to turn on the tap and water comes out. And it is clean!
The UN World Water Development Report on March 19 this year stated: ‘Safe drinking water and sanitation are human rights. Without access to these services, a life of dignity, stability and good health is virtually impossible.
‘Water, when managed sustainably and equitably, can be a source of peace and prosperity. It is also the literal lifeblood of agriculture, the major socio-economic driver for billions of people.
‘It can promote community stability and peacebuilding – especially in fragile situations – and contribute to migration management and disaster risk reduction.
‘But, when water is scarce, polluted or difficult to access, food security can be undermined, livelihoods lost, and conflict can follow.
‘In an unstable world where security threats are growing, it said, we must all recognize that ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all – the aim of Sustainable Development Goal 6 – is essential for global prosperity and peace.’
Now that may be on a global scale. However, the implications of water disruptions are felt and again, are just that – disruptive everywhere! Can someone please fix our water woes! Urgently please!