Residents of Matanikoro Settlement at Wainibuku in Nausori claim that for years, they’ve been pleading with authorities for piped water supply in their area.
For all these years, they’ve had to rely on rainwater.
Viliame Yabaki, 79, who’s resided in the area since 1982, said he had been running to the authorities for help since he settled there.
“I have been to the authorities so many times in the past, but it has never been looked at seriously,” Mr Yabaki said.
“I have been trying and trying. The Government changed, promises were made but nothing happened to get the tap water supply here.
“I don’t really know why the Water Authority of Fiji cannot get the tap water supply here.”
He said close to 200 people lived in Matanikoro.
“All of them mostly depend on rainwater harvesting. What else to do? We have no choice.”
Mr Yabaki said the authority had placed a tank in the area, “but it runs out of water quickly”.
He said he wanted to see his children and grandchildren live with piped water supply.
“Getting tap water supply here is everyone’s dream, but I don’t know when their dream will be fulfilled.
“So many people came here, made promises and went away.”
Fellow resident Atelaite Savou, 34, raised similar concerns.
“The situation gets worse when our water tanks run out of water,” she said.
“We have children, some houses have babies, but we all need water.”
Another resident Seta said when the tanks run dry, they had to wait for weeks for the authority to fill the tanks.
“Water trucks also refuse to enter our area to deliver water because of the poor road condition,” he said.
“What makes it more frustrating is that there’s a water pump located just across Matanikoro Rd, yet we have no water connection.”
Questions sent to the Water Authority of Fiji have remained unanswered.
