20 years of water woes
TWO homes with piped water are the only source of clean drinking water for the 108 residents of Naqiroso settlement, an informal community located just outside Lautoka City.
Settlement headman Ratu Sione Ravusou said for more than two decades, people living in Naqiroso have relied on the two water meters for drinking, cooking and bathing.
He said each of the 15 households paid $10 per day to fill their containers from the two houses.
Ratu Sione said no one complained because water was a basic need for every individual and family member.
The two houses with water meters were located a fair distance from the settlement and residents had dug and laid pipes to allow them easy access to water.
“Every morning, the men of each household would pay $10 before filling 44 gallon drums and other containers.
“They try to make sure there is enough to last them for a few days because it is too expensive to pay $10 every day.
“Before this, our fathers used to cart water from the fisheries wharf, a 15-minute boat ride away.”
Ratu Sione said the installation of water pipes in each individual household would cost a family about $600.
He added that apart from water, access to electricity was also an issue.
“It’s been three years now since we have applied for power under the rural electrification program but nothing has been confirmed as yet.”
Residents depend entirely on fishing for their daily living and as a source of income to support their families.