ABOUT 24,600 people across Fiji are affected by water shortages, with 19 of the country’s 44 operational water sources now at critical levels as the El Niño drought intensifies.
Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau told Parliament yesterday that the Western and Northern divisions had reached the crisis response stage, while the Central Eastern region was at early action.
He said the situation had deteriorated rapidly, with critical water sources increasing from seven on September 15 to 19 on November 1.
“The margin is thin, and it is narrowing every week the rain stays away,” Ro Filipe said.
The Western Division is the worst affected, with 18,798 people experiencing intermittent supply or relying on water carting.
Particular concern surrounded Vaturu Dam, which supplies all of Nadi and about 70 per cent of Lautoka, serving approximately 223,000 people.
Ro Filipe said the dam was 41 centimetres above its critical level on November 1 and was falling by about 5.3 centimetres daily.
“On November 1, the dam stood at 522.410 metres, 41 centimetres above its critical level of 522 metres,” Ro Filipe said.
“It is falling by about 5.3 centimetres a day, and on the current trend it will drop below the critical level around November 8 to 9.”
He said the Northern Division was in a serious position.
“Seven of its 16 sources are critical and five more are approaching critical.
“Ten of its 11 treatment systems are not at Normal. Production is 19.90 million litres a day against a requirement of 29.40 million litres a day, a shortfall of 32.3 per cent.
“In the North, 3510 people are affected.”
Ro Filipe said greater Suva was also experiencing pressure, with the Tamavua system operating about 5.7 per cent below requirements.
“The most significant is the Savura Cascade, which feeds the Tamavua Water Treatment Plant serving about 94,000 people in greater Suva.
“Its flow has fallen from 25.56 to 19.86 million litres a day as gauged on November 1, below its minimum of 20 million litres a day.
“Tamavua is now about 5.7 per cent short. The Savura Cascade joins Waisa, which supplies Vunidawa, and Totogo in Levuka, where dam levels are depleted.
“2276 people are affected in this region: 2000 in the Tamavua supply area, 200 in Levuka, 43 in Navua and 33 in Vunidawa.
