THE Commissioner Northern’s Office is using a divisional contingency plan to coordinate its response to communities affected by prolonged dry weather.
Acting Commissioner Northern Apolosi Lewaqai said provincial administrators, district officers and assistant district officers were working with several Government agencies to monitor the situation.
He said the agencies included the Water Authority of Fiji, Mineral Resources Department and Fiji Meteorological Service.
“A divisional contingency plan is in place to guide preparedness and response efforts,” he said.
Mr Lewaqai said the plan focused particularly on communities that were historically vulnerable to water shortages or relied on rainwater harvesting systems, boreholes and direct water sources.
“Ongoing assessments are being carried out on water supply systems, groundwater resources, rainfall conditions and community water sources.”
He said the information gathered was being used to identify emerging risks and determine where intervention was required, while the coordinated approach was intended to improve preparedness and allow authorities to respond quickly when communities experienced shortages.
The office was also monitoring communities where water supplies were intermittent or where households depended heavily on rainwater tanks.
Mr Lewaqai said safeguarding water security remained a priority as the dry conditions continued.
