Residents of Nadera in Nasinu are fuming at the health risks created by overflowing sewer in the area.

Resident Sai Finau says the sewer problem is an ongoing issue that authorities have not been able to resolve despite numerous complaints.

“The first complaint I sent was on 7th of December to the Nasinu Town Council but they came after two weeks to take pictures of the overflowing sewer,” Ms Finau said.

“I called them and they said they had referred the issue to the Water Authority. When I called WAF, they said they would call the relevant authorities to check the problem, but nothing has been done.

“I then called the Ministry of Health and this morning MOH came to take pictures and said they would go back to WAF stating that the over-flowing of sewerage is a really serious issue.”

Ms Finau said the sewer flow originated from Duvula Rd leading to a government reserve land before coming down Kabote Circle, where the taxi stand is located, which she added was dry before sewer started over-flowing onto it and carved a drain that runs on to Ratu Dovi Rd.

For more than a month, residents of Duvula Rd near the Veiwekani Taxi base have had to endure the foul smell from the leaking sewer.

Another concerned citizen, Kaliova Roko, who works at the Veiwekani Taxi base said the foul smell had caused a significant drop in the number of customers because the taxi base also hosted a kava bar business.

“We have been losing customers coming to the kava bar and we even made complaints but nothing was done,” he said.

The Ministry of Health said health inspectors had inspected the site and referred the case to WAF while the Nasinu Town Council said the leaking sewer line belonged to WAF which was resonbsible for its maintenance and upkeep.