The Water Authority of Fiji’s Tamavua system continues to experience critical levels of raw water sources, now out of the six main raw water sources (rivers and streams) five have reached critical levels namely the Headworks 1, Headworks 2, Headworks 3, Waimanu Pump Station, and the Savura Pump Station while Savura Cascade is still operating normally.
For the Central Eastern region, out of 20 water sources in the region, 9 have reached critical levels inclusive of the ones mentioned above while 5 water sources remain normal to approaching critical status with a continuous receding trend in level and flows observed.
WAF Acting Chief Operating Officer, Mr Samuela Rokovaleusa confirms that recent findings of reaching critical water levels are the Deuba water source, Wainikavika water source (Navua), Tamavua water sources of Savura, Cascade, Headworks 3 and Waimanu, Korovou (Namau source), Vunidawa water source as well as the Levuka water source.
Mr Rokovaleusa said that the Waimanu River water level has reached critical, however, the cofferdam which is temporary measure at the water source has retained a level within safe yield.
“Rainfall in the past few days has very little impact on the water levels, however, this should recede even more, if no significant rainfall is recorded in the next few days.”
Mr Rokovaleusa said that with suppressed rainfall experienced within the last 2 months, most sources are at the base flow condition hence total stream flows are dominated by groundwater contributions.
“Minor rainfall events might not be significant enough to recover sources thus prolonged or high rainfall event is needed. However, the forecast for the next 3 months does not confidently indicate wet conditions for most of Fiji.”
Mr Rokovaleusa attributes the critical raw water production to low rainfall experienced at the catchments, which poses a low treated water production and a struggling reservoir level for the Tamavua Reservoir.
The decrease in the raw water sources directly impacts the water production efforts, which in turn causes reservoir levels to deplete. The WAF Hydrology Team is actively monitoring the situation at the main raw water sources.
“During this period, areas supplied from the Tamavua Water Treatment Plant system may experience temporary disruptions as WAF Operation Teams might have to resort to valve operation subject to the treated water production levels,” said Mr Rokovaleusa.
WAF urges customers to be water-wise and always store adequate amounts of water to sustain a household for at least two days.
For water tanker requests, members of the public are to contact WAF’s National Call Centre at 3346777 or shortcode 5777.
WAF regrets any inconvenience caused to its customers.
For further enquiries, customers can call (679) 3346777 or short code 5777 (all mobile networks) the WAF Mobile App or email us at contact@waf.com.fj