Fijians are very lucky — we have the cheapest water rates in the region, at 15 cents for the first 1000 litres! Compare this to the fact that it costs us $1.05 to produce that same 1000 litres of water.
We want to make sure that Fijian families can afford to have clean and safe water in their homes in adequate quantities, as is their right.
In fact, with the Free Water Scheme for families who earn less than $30,000 a year, 91,250 litres of water is provided absolutely free for them!
However, aged infrastructure, and changing and unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change are having a huge impact on our water sources.
We operate many of our large facilities that supply populated areas at over 100 per cent capacity to meet daily demand. This means that we cannot bring these offline to perform maintenance because it would cause much larger disruptions.
Another important thing to bear in mind is that more rain doesn’t always mean more water. Too much rain actually stops our ability to provide water to customers because of a number of factors, the most common of which are; debris blocking our intakes, and dirtier water taking a much longer time to process so that it is safe for Fijian families to consume.
In comparison, during periods of drought, low levels in our reservoirs means that there is not enough water to supply at full capacity.
Sadly, we sometimes take water for granted because of how cheap it is. That is why we ask you — our customers; to please practise water conservation whenever and wherever possible, because water sources in Fiji are not unlimited. This is true even for the rest of the world.
Remember, we must save water because every drop you waste means that someone, somewhere goes without water.
Don’t forget that when you save water, you save money on your utility bills too. Saving water is easy for everyone to do – here are 20 tips. Share them with your friends and family too!
- Check for home for leaks, hidden water leaks can be wasting water without you even being aware of it.
- A good way to check for leaks is, if your property is metered, then read your water meter and do not use any water for a couple of hours and go back to check that the meter reads exactly the same. If it does not, there is a leak
- We’re more likely to notice leaks indoors, but don’t forget to check outdoor taps, sprinklers and hoses for leaks.
- Fix any dripping tap, you can waste 90 litres a week which will cost a lot more than what might just be the price of a new washer.
- If you can’t repair it yourself, report broken pipes, open hydrants and errant sprinklers to the property owner or someone qualified to get it fixed.
- Teach your children to turn off taps tightly after each use.
- Turn off the tap while cleaning your teeth, shaving or washing your face. You can waste up to 9 litres a minute by just letting the water pour down the sink.
- When you are washing your hands, don’t let the water run while you lather.
- If your shower fills a 4 litre bucket in less than 30 seconds, replace the showerhead with a water-efficient model. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you hundreds of litres a month.
- Shorten your shower by a minute or two. The savings will add up.
- Upgrade older toilets with water efficient models.
- Don’t overfill the kettle when making a cup of tea. Only fill and boil what you need, this will save you money on your energy costs too.
- Only use the washing machine when you can put on a full load. It wastes both water and energy to run only a half full machine. Also, match the water level to the size of the load.
- When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run while rinsing. If possible, fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
- Keep cool water in the fridge so that you do not need to run water down the sink to have a cold drink. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
- Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap. Collect this water and reuse it to water houseplants.
- Don’t use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety.
- Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
- When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
- If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.