More than 2000 Fijians in Labasa will now benefit from the newly constructed service reservoir in Nasalasala, which was recently commissioned by the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF).
For decades, residents of Nakama, Vunimoli, Rualago, Naduna, Nagata, Vunikawakawa and Vatulovona village received treated water from the Nasalasala creek. Operating the Nasalasala system without a reservoir was often problematic, but thanks to the new reservoir, these issues are now a thing of the past.
It took the WAF ground teams about eight weeks to complete the construction of the reservoir. The ground teams last week conducted the final cutting and connecting of inlet and outlet at the newly operational 80,000-litre reservoir before the line was opened to service customers.
The construction of the reservoir was an essential step for WAF to ensure there was a reduction of burst mains and blockages through service connections, usually caused by heavy rain in the area. WAF is now able to meet the demands of the increasing population in the areas that it supplies water to.
The new water system also caters to three schools, a few shops and other farmers in the area.
45-year old Vunimoli resident, Yashmeen Bibi, relayed her appreciation for the work done when the WAF team visited her home. The water supply to her home had been scarce for the past 10-years as her home is located at one of the highest points in the area.
Her family has had to rely on the Authority’s water carting services on most days as water supply from Nasalasala would only be received in her home late at night and into the early hours of the morning.
“In the last four days, water has been flowing normally to our home and this makes our life so much easier. As a woman, chores can now be done easily and we no longer have to wake up in the odd hours of the night to fill our water anymore,” said Mrs Bibi.
Farmer Muhammad Rashik of Rualago also expressed his appreciation at receiving water normally from his tap making his farming work easier.
In the past, his family had to travel to their neighbour’s home, that is located on lower ground, to wash their clothes and collect water for his farm animals and his labourers also had to travel to other homes to access clean drinking water.
Now, they no longer need to wait for water carting trucks to deliver to their area and this has made daily farm work much easier.
“It has been a challenge to live on carted water and rely on rainwater to look after my farm,” said Mr Rashik.
“Water is now flowing normally to my home. It has never come in this much quantity before and I thank WAF for building this new reservoir. Now our daily farm work has been made easier.”
WAF would like to acknowledge the Commissioner North’s Office for funding a total of $60,000 for the construction of the Nasalasala Reservoir.