THE prolonged dry period felt across the country has had a drastic impact on some of the most isolated coastal communities.

One such rural community is Yasawa-i-Rara Village, located on the northern part of the Yasawa Group.

The village of about 130 has been surviving on a borehole which has a damaged pump.

“This is our biggest issue right now because our pump can’t properly draw water from our borehole,” village headman Lasaro Rokomula said during a talanoa session with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama this week.

“It’s been damaged for a while. We have about nine smaller water sources which we have dug around the village but they are quickly drying up.”

He said the village had been supplied with water from Government on two occasions under its emergency water supply scheme implemented by the Commissioner Western’s office.

“We’ve been told that another run will come at the end of the year and so we are looking forward to that.

“I think the best solution for us would be a desalination water system.

“It’s something that is suitable for island communities like ours.”

Mr Bainimarama said the issue of a new pump and borehole would be addressed by the relevant authorities.