The Water Authority of Fiji says water infrastructural projects already under construction, including the Rewa River Water Supply Scheme, have secured allocation in the 2022-2023 national budget.

And WAF board chairperson Bhavesh Kumar said the allocation would ensure this $270million project would be completed in this financial year, and end water woes for people living in the Lami-Suva-Nausori corridor.

WAF received a $204.3m budget allocation in this financial year.

Of that, $89.2m is allocated for operating expenditures, while $115.1m is allocated for capital investment to improve and expand the nation’s water distribution network and wastewater management systems.

“We have weathered the brunt of the economic storm, and it is encouraging to see the Government is still focusing on a people-centric approach through the provision of robust water infrastructure,” Mr Kumar said.

He said the budget also provided for WAF to start working on a Water Sector 2050 Strategy, a long term plan for climate resilient water infrastructure of the future.

The WAF’s service covers some 772,000 Fijians nationwide, with 154,383 water and 33,190 wastewater active connections.