The dry weather conditions experienced in March continues and have resulted in low raw water extraction due to falling river levels.
WAF Chief Operating Officer Seru Soderberg noted this in a statement while informing members of the public along the Lami-Suva-Nausori corridor in the Central Division of the status of reduced raw water levels in the Waimanu River, which is the main source of water for the Tamavua and Waila water treatment plants.
“For March, rainfall recorded in Suva and Nausori was well below the historical level of 440mm with total rainfall for Suva registered at 157.2mm and Nausori 140.4mm,” Mr Soderberg said.
“Since March 14, any rainfall received has been below the minimum daily requirement of 6mm to replenish river flows. Our hydrology reports suggest that over the last three days, Waimanu River flow has dropped by 80 million litres per day.”
Mr Soderberg said a direct result of the inflow shortage was reduced supply of treated water, causing the intermittent water supply to no water situations for customers.
“Currently, the Waimanu River is critical sitting at 0.6m impacting Waimanu and Waila raw water pump station intake capacity.
“The WAF team is working to install a temporary coffer dam to sustain water levels in the river allowing our pumps to continue operating,” he said.
According to weather reports, the receding level at Waimanu, Waila, Savura Creek, Savura Cascade and Headworks 3 are expected to continue for the next seven days.
During the wet season, rain-producing events such as tropical cyclones, low pressures and tropical depressions bring well above-average rainfall to the Fiji group.
However, so far in 2023, these events did not significantly occur for the Central Eastern division, particularly for the Waimanu catchments and Suva to Nausori area.
Customers are requested to save water and use it sparingly.
“I urge members of the public to please practice water conservation in your homes and at the workplaces as we need to work together to manage this finite resource, particularly at this time.”
