PEOPLE are being warned to brace for possible water shortages over Christmas and New Year, with the worsening El Niño-driven drought threatening to force water and power rationing in the coming months.
Dry conditions are expected to persist into the first three months of next year, with the Fiji Meteorological Services forecasting below-average rainfall and drought conditions likely to peak in December and January.
Commissioner Western and Acting Commissioner Northern Apolosi Lewaqai said residents needed to prepare for possible water disruptions, although he could not confirm whether shortages would occur during the festive season.
“That is something we need to prepare for. I cannot confirm whether there will be water shortages during Christmas and New Year, but it is something communities should be prepared for,” he said.
Mr Lewaqai said there had been no rainfall for about two months, and the rain forecast over the coming days would not be enough to improve the situation.
He said water carting services would continue for as long as communities required assistance and sufficient water was available for delivery.
The warning comes as Government steps up its response to the deteriorating drought situation, with Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau confirming that Cabinet had received a briefing from the Fiji Meteorological Services and the Water Authority of Fiji.
Ro Filipe said Water Authority teams were assessing communities under pressure in the Western and Northern divisions, with affected households receiving assistance through water carting and water tanks.
He warned that if conditions continued to worsen, water rationing could become unavoidable.”If the situation worsens or deteriorates, we will come to a situation where we will need to ration,” he said.
The drought could also affect electricity generation as falling dam levels reduce hydroelectric production, increasing reliance on fossil fuels.
Ro Filipe said power rationing was also among the possibilities, with Energy Fiji Ltd already announcing measures.
Both officials urged households to take the threat seriously, conserve water and electricity, and prepare for prolonged dry conditions.
The Government is coordinating a whole-of-government response as the country braces for the potential impact of the drought.
