All preparations towards the major planned water shutdown in the Western Division have been finalised.
Water Authority of Fiji’s Board Director, Mr Kamal Gounder, said that all necessary checks have been conducted in preparation for the water shutdown, which will take place from 1am Saturday 03rd February until 5pm Tuesday 06th February.
“The Authority has mobilised the operations teams in the Western Division, all final checks have been made and the Authority is ready to undertake the repair works at the Nagado Water Treatment Plant,” said Mr Gounder.
The areas affected will be the entire Nadi area and parts of Lautoka, excluding the Lautoka Central Business District (CBD) and some outer boundaries supplied through the Buabua and Saru Water Treatment Plants.
“WAF will ensure that during the disruption period there will be minimal interruption to major services such as hospitals, the airport, schools and hotels, as more than 100 water trucks will be deployed to deliver water to them,” said Mr Gounder.
Mr Gounder reiterated that the WAF is committed to providing clean water to customers.
“It is of great importance for this repair to take place, in order for WAF to continue to supply clean drinking water to its customers. We hope customers will understand the need for this shutdown, and bear with us in this regard,” said Mr Gounder.
WAF General Manager Customer Services, Mr Sekove Uluinayau said that WAF has reached out to members of the public and engaged with the various communities and villages that will be affected during the disruption period.
“WAF officials in the West, with the assistance with a team from Suva, have been working tirelessly to meet and engage with our customers in nearly all areas that will be affected during this disruption. So far, they have visited close to 5,500 Fijians, the total number of people who have showed up at our awareness sessions. Also, on
Saturday (27/01), roadshows were organised in Nadi and Lautoka and we assisted over one thousand people who wanted clarifications on the shutdown and other WAF services,” said Mr Uluinayau.
Mr Uluinayau thanked the many Fijians who have taken the time out of their busy schedules to meet with the WAF teams to become informed about the importance of storing sufficient drinking water to sustain them for the four-day disruption period.
“For this planned water disruption, we have informed members of the public through all facets of the media, as well as short text messages to all customers living in the affected areas,” he said.
Following a community engagement meeting in Field 5, Nadi, with a population of 300 people, resident Kalivati Ratucicivi, 43, said the meeting was very informative and he thanked the WAF for its service.
“We really do appreciate and we are very grateful for the service that has been provide by the Water Authority of Fiji in caring about its customers and giving us some tips on saving water. Especially in the Nadi area, which is already dry and this will be an awakening to all the families here, that they save enough water to facilitate them for the four days.
“We are ready, (for the shutdown) I think no one has an excuse, since the notice has been disseminated through all media and on Facebook I thank the Water Authority of Fiji, its staff and management for caring for its customers,” he said.
Meanwhile, customers in Nadi and Lautoka can contact the Nagado Shutdown Helpline through the toll free short code 1507 for TFL, Vodafone, Digicel and Inkk network users, or email nagadohelpline@waf.com.fj for further enquiries, which will be available 24 hours a day, during the planned shutdown period.