The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) contractors are working to complete the pipe connection and pipe laying works for the new 3 million litres treated water reservoir along Tacirua East Road, off Khalsa Road in Nasinu, which will address intermittent supply issues to Fijians in the area.
The project is set to be completed within the next 4 weeks and will benefit over 5,500 Fijians in the area.
The reservoir was completed in the 2020/2021 financial year and faced a few challenges which resulted in delays, given that a no-go zone was formalised in court within a portion of the area by landowners.
To resolve the issue, WAF worked with the Housing Authority of Fiji (HAF) to secure an alternative pipeline route to finalise and commission the reservoir, whereby HAF granted permission for use of their sub-division access roads to install the inlet and outlet pipelines.
“We are extremely thankful to the Housing Authority team for working with us in enabling this project to get underway and provide Fijians living along Khalsa Road, Tacirua Heights and parts of Nasinu to get a better and steady supply of clean drinking water,” said WAF CEO, Dr Amit Chanan.
Funding from the mini-budget, of $1.06m has also been instrumental, enabling WAF contractors to undertake the reservoir connection and pipe laying works that were remaining.At the moment, the upper Tacirua East sub-division and Niubalavu Crescent — which are densely populated areas – experience intermittent supply as they solely depend on the reservoir levels at the Nagatugatu reservoir and the daily valve operations.
Dr Chanan said that a total investment of $3.4 million has enabled the expansion of water storage providing resilience to the Tovata and Nagatugatu water supply zone.
“Once completed, the new reservoir will address the service disruptions within the area, bringing much-needed relief to the intermittently supplied areas, as well as ensuring better service delivery to Fijians in the area,” explained Dr Chanan.
Housing Authority of Fiji Deputy Chairman, Saud Minam thanked the Water Authority of Fiji for its efforts and for ensuring that Fijians in communities receive the best supply of water.
“This is a great opportunity and seeing the progress in a short period of time. I recall the conversation we had with the WAF CEO in terms of the issues the communities here are facing and how quickly the Housing Authority team worked with WAF in finding alternative pipeline route and to get this long standing issue sorted. Once water is supplied with better pressure in the coming weeks, Fijians in the area will be happy about that,” Mr Minam said.
For more information, you can call 3346777 and shortcode 5777 (all networks) or email contact@waf.com.fjTo view the video on the project, go to: https://bit.ly/3DNFqxl
