Government is stepping up borehole drilling in rural and maritime communities facing water shortages, with dozens of new groundwater targets identified in the Western Division.
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo said the Government’s priority was communities and schools outside the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF)network.
“Government’s standing priority is rural and maritime communities, and schools, that sit outside the WAF network or whose surface sources dry quickly,” Mr Vosarogo said.
He said the Ministry’s national borehole programme had been strengthened by combining Mineral Resources Department (MRD) drilling rigs with private drillers under multi-year contracts.
The ministry was also solarising pumps in areas without Energy Fiji Ltd supply and using airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data to identify potential groundwater sources.
“From the AEM interpretation alone, dozens of new targets have already been identified in the Western Division, with holes drilled and more programmed for this financial year,” Mr Vosarogo said.
“Similar targeting continues in the North and East.”
He said every successful borehole underwent water-quality testing in Fiji and, where necessary, overseas before being commissioned.
He said not all groundwater was immediately suitable for drinking and treatment was required where water contained elevated levels of iron or other parameters.
“Not every hole is potable without treatment; iron and other parameters are managed before a community is asked to drink from it.”
