The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) has a project currently underway to construct water supply infrastructure to improve supply to Savusavu residents, namely a 5MLD Packaged Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and 1 Megalitre Reservoir.
This project will increase storage capacity and stability for the Savusavu water system, and is in line with a series of infrastructural upgrades that WAF has in the works to alleviate issues that cannot be handled by existing infrastructure and ensure future sustainability.
“This is a very substantial project, at a cost of over $2.8 million, and is one of many that we have underway to build greater capacity and ensure that all Fijians have access to clean and safe drinking water,” said WAF Chairman Bhavesh Kumar, who added that work has steadily been progressing on the construction of the project since 2019.
“We initiated the contract in February 2018, after the agreement between WAF and our contractor “Caledonienne des Eaux Suez”, along with designs of the facilities, were finalised.”
“A significant portion of the actual construction for the Water Treatment Plant and reservoir has been completed, with a few items pending, which are targeted for completion next year, barring any shipping or manufacturing delays.”
The construction of the foundation slabs for the two plants were completed in March 2020 and the installation works of the actual structures were completed in December 2020 by the same contractor. Additionally, transformer upgrade works, to cater for the WTP, were also completed in late 2019 by Energy Fiji Limited.
Mr Kumar added that WAF also completed work on securing an additional water source in Naidriva in 2020, to supplement raw water flows to the WTP.
“The work for this water source involved the construction of a new raw water intake/dam, 150 metres of dual raw water piping from the dam through rocky terrain, and 4 kilometres of raw water pipeline, along the existing road corridor, to the WTP site itself.”
With regard to the items that are pending, Mr Kumar stated that they are in the process of connection/configuration and electrical work, but the completion of these were highly dependent on when the shipment for manufacturing materials arrived.
“We have procured the required fittings that would allow us to connect a raw water pipeline to the inlet of the WTP and outlet of the reservoir to the existing Savusavu water supply system, but we are currently awaiting the delivery of the parts, and work will continue once they arrive.”
“Negotiations with electrical contractors for all electrical work related to the plant are also currently underway and once finalised, work will commence on getting power supply commissioned for the WTP and reservoir.”
“We thank our valued customers in the area for their patience and understanding, and request that until this project has been completed, they continue to use water wisely, and always be prepared.”
WAF advises customers to conserve and always store sufficient amounts of water to last for at least 2 to 3 days in their homes at all times, when water is available, in case of unplanned disruptions to water supply.
For further enquiries, customers can call 3346777 or shortcode 5777 or toll-free shortcode 1507 (all-mobile network users), email contact@waf.com.fj or go to the WAF Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WaterAuthorityofFiji