The scarcity of water has become an area of serious concern to the three villages on Mali Island in Macuata Province.
While most homes have water tanks to harvest rainwater, Mali district representative Pita Baleibau said the supply often ran out during the dry season.
“Although we have water tanks for harvesting rain, we also have boreholes which need to be properly surveyed to see what can be done,” he said.
Mr Baleibau said the water shortage had forced some villagers to resort to the sea during high tide to bathe before returning home to use well water. “At times, people will go to the sea for a bath and then come back to use water from a well that’s about 200 metres from the village.”
Mr Baleibau said the issue was now a serious concern for the islanders and they’re urging the authorities to help them with a lasting solution.
“I would like to request the authorities to consider connecting a water supply line from the mainland to the island,” he said.
