More than 223,000 people in Nadi and Lautoka face a growing water supply threat, with Vaturu Dam expected to fall below its critical level between November 8 and 9 if the current rate of decline continues.
Minister for Infrastructure Ro Filipe Tuisawau told Parliament this morning that the Western Division was the worst-affected region as Fiji faces worsening drought conditions linked to El Niño.
He said Vaturu Dam, which feeds the Nagado Water Treatment Plant supplying all of Nadi and about 70 per cent of Lautoka, was under increasing pressure.
As of November 1, the dam stood at 522.410 metres, just 41 centimetres above its critical level of 522 metres.
Mr Tuisawau said the water level was falling by about 5.3 centimetres daily.
“On the current trend it will drop below the critical level around 8 to 9 November,” he said.
He told Parliament that Level 1 water restrictions had been in force at Vaturu since September 26.
Under the worst-case scenario, which the dam was currently tracking, its capacity could fall to about 46 per cent full by late December.
Mr Tuisawau said nine of the Western Division’s 13 water sources were critical, while two others, Vaturu Dam and Lower Nadrou, were approaching critical levels.
Only Nasivi and Matovo remained at normal levels.
Eight of the region’s nine water treatment systems were also not operating at normal levels.
A total of 18,798 people in the Western Division were affected by water supply disruptions.
The largest affected areas were the Saru and Varaqe supply areas in Lautoka, with 7860 people, and southern Nadi, with 6025 people.
The minister said he would outline staged measures to address the situation at Vaturu Dam as part of the Government’s response.
