The prolonged dry weather has severely affected the availability of water in certain areas of Vanua Levu, with some communities reporting their water sources have dried up or reached critical levels.
In villages such as Visoko in Namuka, the people now face strict water usage restrictions, with access limited to a few hours in the morning and evening.
Children in these communities have been instructed to bring a bottle of water to school as part of daily life adjustments.
Tui Nadogo Ratu Ilisaniti Malodali said some villages had been hit hard by the dry spell.
“They have to use water wisely, turning on taps only in the morning and evening,” he said.
Ratu Ilisaniti said most villagers depend on boreholes and wells as their main water sources, but these are now under strain.
“In Nadogo, the district of Daku has been the hardest hit by the prolonged dry spell,” he said.
In response to the growing water crisis, Infrastructure Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau said he visited certain parts of Vanua Levu to witness the infrastructure challenges first-hand.
“It is clear that there are significant challenges, and we need to develop better strategies to address them effectively,” he said.
Ro Filipe said climate change had a huge impact on water availability in the region.
“The Water Authority, in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development and the Northern Commissioner’s office, is actively coordinating water relief efforts.”
He said these include deploying water trucks to the affected areas, particularly the maritime zones, with support from the Government Shipping Services to ensure timely delivery.
“The Government invests a lot in water carting every year, as it remains our primary mitigation measure for the regions facing water scarcity.
“We continue to assess water needs across both urban and rural areas to ensure resources are targeted where they are most required.”
Residents remain hopeful that these measures, alongside better long-term strategies, will ease the water shortage and improve living conditions during the ongoing dry spell.
