Around 800 Fijians living in the elevated parts of Balawa and Saweni Beach Road in Lautoka now have a consistent water supply after the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) recommissioned the DMO reservoir at a cost of around $22,447.
A team of skilled WAF grounds team carried out valve replacement and refurbishment works at the reservoir, as well as pressure tests to ensure all residents get sufficient supply.
WAF’s main objective of recommissioning the DMO reservoir was to solve the challenge of ongoing low-reservoir levels at the Saru reservoir due to the increase in demand which resulted in no water supply to Fijians in elevated areas.
The DMO reservoir now provides a reliable and consistent supply of water to the residents living in Morris Street – Balawa, Natokawaqa, and Drasa Avenue with the extension of supply from the DMO reservoir taking off some load on the area that was normally fed off the Vuda and Saru Reservoir.
The few elevated areas that fed off these two reservoirs and were normally experiencing low pressure and intermittent supply during peak hours are now getting 24/7 supply.
This includes Saweni, Viseisei, Field 40, Viseisei back Road elevated area, Wairabetia Muslim School Road, Natabua AOG, Tawatawa/ Captain Withers Street as well as elevated areas in Banaras.
Rajesh Lal, a resident of Saweni Beach Road thanked WAF for a job well done.
“I am a happy man – before we woke up at around 4 am to start washing our clothes and filling up water since we do not get any water during the day. This has been happening for about 9 years but I am thankful that WAF has changed our lives,” said Mr Lal.
“We now receive water 24/7. Thank you Water Authority for making our lives much easier.”
Michael Scott, a resident of Morris Street, Balawa, also expressed his appreciation.
“From 8 am to 8 pm, even on a Sunday, we do not get water but now I am satisfied, I have no problem and the water is on full-time, and I thank the Water Authority and the team that worked hard to get us water,” he said.
The DMO reservoir has a capacity of 1.14Ml (megalitre) and was built in the 1970s during the days of the then Public Works Department and was named after the Divisional Medical Officer who lived in the area.
WAF urges customers to store at least 2 days worth of water to build resilience in case of emergency disruptions.