Repair works to the leaking Vanessa valve at the Water Authority of Fiji’s Nagado Water Treatment Plant has been completed.
“As of 4 am this morning (04/02) repair works to the leaking valve at the Nagado Water Treatment Plant has been successfully completed within its expected timeframe. The next step is to ‘charge the line’ or refill the pipeline network from the Vaturu Dam to the Nagado Water Treatment Plant,” said WAF Chief Operating Officer, Samanmal Ekanayake.
Mr Ekanayake said that by 3 pm this afternoon WAF will be able to normalise the supply from Vaturu to Nagado.
“Once water supply is normalised from Vaturu to Nagado, a five-metre level of raw water is required for treatment to commence and all these steps should be within the given timeframe for restoration, which by Tuesday afternoon at 5pm,” he said.
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) Chief Executive Officer, Ms Fantasha Lockington said “Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association is pleased with the Water Authority of Fiji and has also received positive feedback from the hotel association members.”
She added that most hotels in Nadi and Lautoka have their own back up storage tanks and water carting to refill their water tanks is “happening that way it is supposed to and if they needed it earlier than expected, someone’s been there to answer calls and the water carting trucks arrived on time.”
Ms Lockington added that many hotels had extra capacity “in fact Sheraton went as far as organising a few of their own water carting trucks, they are doing this to be extra sure because they have gone from 50 to 70% for most of these hotels. So when they get high 70% occupancy, they cannot afford to take the risk and some of these hotels can use 500,000 litres and they have a backup of 700,000 litres and when the truck comes around they take the top up, they just make sure that they have the extra capacity,” said Ms Lockington.
She said the many hotels are “doing well and are ensuring that their water levels do not go low as well as upscaling water saving initiatives and most of them have these in place.”
Meanwhile, the Authority continues to receive reports of tank damages and it also reiterates that anyone found damaging these water tanks will be reported to the Fiji Police Force.
WAF General Manager Customer Services, Mr Sekove Uluinayau said that “WAF is committed to resolving this water disruption and we are working around the clock to restore supply of clean drinking water to the people of Nadi and Lautoka as soon as possible. It is unbecoming to hear reports of water tanks being damaged,” he said.
Mr Uluinayau said the WAF is working closely with the Fiji Police Force.
Members of the public are also encouraged to contact the WAF toll-free number 1507 if they witness anyone vandalizing the water tanks.