A LEAKING sewer line is preventing the clean-up of a trashboom at Wailea, with accumulated rubbish now creating foul odours and health concerns for nearby residents.
Trash Boom Pacific director Wayne Fuakilau said the Wailea trashboom could not be safely cleared because of health and safety reasons.
“The Wailea trashboom has not been cleared due to a Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) sewer line discharging directly into the surrounding area,” Mr Fuakilau said.
He said Trash Boom Pacific discovered the leaking sewer on August 4 and reported it to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, asking that WAF address the problem.
“We remain unable to clear it until WAF resolves the issue,” he said.
He said the Wailea Settlement site was scheduled for weekly collection and the company had continued checking the site each week.
However, workers could not be sent into an area contaminated by sewage.
“I cannot risk the health and safety of our team by having them complete collections in a pool of leaking sewage until WAF addresses the issue.”
Mr Fuakilau said the sewer discharge was also responsible for the foul odour reported by residents.
Questions sent to WAF about the sewer leak and its response remained unanswered.
