Village water project Initiative to bring relief to villagers

AFTER decades of living without proper water supply, villagers of Vuaki in Nacula, Yasawa, could soon be receiving water straight to their homes.

According to the Water Authority of Fiji, the $200,200 water project was set to commence at the village where close to 300 villagers had been depending heavily on boreholes and stored rain water.

WAF chief operating officer Seru Soderberg said the intensive project to improve water supply on Vuaki involved building infrastructure from the water source to a storage facility.

“This project will cost $200,200 and will include building a cofferdam at the new spring source, as well as a 45,460 litre Ferro cement tank for overall storage, and pipes will be laid along trenches of over four kilometres from the source to 73 residences,” he said.

“Our project team will ensure the design and installation of the pipe network is robust and fit for purpose, concluding with the installation of service connections so the households can finally have a regular supply of water.

“To further increase water security, we will be installing 35 new 2700-litre rain harvesting water tanks for earmarked dwellings and upgrading existing concrete tanks and their rain-gathering mechanisms.”

Vuaki villager Asilika Naine said the new initiative would bring relief to the locals who had been suffering for decades.

“I am now 62 years old and, unfortunately, I have never used a tap in my life,” she said.

“We only have rainwater as a supply of water.

“Before, we used to wait for low tide and travel across to the other side of the island, where the spring is located, to wash our clothes and get water for drinking.”

I am now 62 years old and, unfortunately, I have never used a tap in my life. We only have rainwater as a supply of water.

– Asilika Naine