More than 4000 residents of Navua told they might be without tap water for at least three weeks because of a burst main.
According to an article published by The Fiji Times on April 3, 1991, Public Works Department workers had located a 24-millimetre hole in an asbestos cement pipe which was submerged under 1.8 metres of water in the Wainikavika irrigation dam outside Navua Town.
District Officer-Navua Seremaia Tuiteci said his office asked the Ministry of Primary Industries if the dam gates could be opened to let out some of the three million cubic metres of water in it.
“As soon as the damaged pipes are exposed, repair work will begin,” Mr Tuiteci said.
Headteachers of schools in the area said students would have their holidays earlier than expected if the supply was not restored within a week.
Vashist Muni Primary School headteacher Prithi Raj said he had to close the school for sanitary reasons.
Navua residents had already been without water for a few days.
Mr Tuiteci said the PWD would start laying 1.5 kilometres of galvanised pipe along a new route.
He said although the PWD had located the crack, repairs would take about three weeks.
“We will use this opportunity to repair the whole pipeline to prevent the recurring water problems the Navua area has faced in the past,” Mr Tuiteci said.
“The PWD will place the asbestos cement pipes with six-inch galvanised pipes.”
Navua residents expressed disappointment at the disruption in supply.
One said the water problem could have been prevented if the pipes were maintained or regularly inspected.
“The tap water system was introduced in this area in 1954 when the number of people was still in the hundreds,” Mr Raj said.
“Over the past 36 years, the population has increased to nearly 5000 and the demand for tap water also increased but the pipelines have remained the same.”
Mr Tuiteci said officers from the Navua District Emergency Services Committee (EMSEC) would supervise the emergency distribution of water by road tankers.
“We have been receiving complaints from some residents that water trucks have not been supplying their areas,” he added.
“EMSEC personnel will see that water is distributed in all areas and fairly to all residents.
“This team will also supervise the distribution of water tanks to nearby villages and health centres.”
He said eight trucks from the Suva Water Supply were carting water in the area.
Most of the families living along the Navua River were using the river to bathe and wash clothes, while drinking water is supplied by water trucks.
