By Nanise Neimila
FOR the past 15 years, Kanta Devi and her neighbours in Viseisei Backroad, Lautoka, have struggled with unreliable water access. Living in an area affected by low water pressure, frequent pipe breaks, and constant billing issues, daily life became a series of inconveniences.
Mrs Devi recalls the difficult situation when new residents moved in.
“We were told to remove our water metre. But to have it removed, we were charged $500, even though we had only moved a short distance.”
“The water pressure was always too low, and no matter how many times we complained to the Public Works Department, nothing was done. Eventually, we had no choice but to install a water tank on the roof to store whatever water we could get.”
Mrs Devi shared that while the makeshift solution provided some relief, other issues persisted.
“We only discovered the metre was disconnected when someone would tell us, ‘The pipe’s broken.’ By the time we realised, we had already paid $300 or $500 every three months for water we couldn’t even use.”
“We’re so relieved now. Each household has its own metre, and there are no more high bills or water shortages. We are very grateful to the Government and the Water Authority for making this improvement possible.”
Significant improvements are now underway, thanks to the launch of the Vunakailo Water Coverage Extension Project, which promises to provide a reliable and enhanced water supply to the Viseisei Backroad community.
This initiative will benefit 60 households, approximately 360 people, by delivering a pressurised, sustainable water supply, addressing the challenges that Kanta and her neighbours endured for years.
Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) chief executive officer, Amit Chanan explained that the project involves extending a DN100 main water line to connect existing DN200 and DN80 lines, aiming to strengthen the water supply network. Initial surveys and designs have been completed, with further investigations and testing underway as part of the next phase.
“Before this project, residents like Mrs Devi were served by a small 15mm pipeline running across 500 meters of vacant land. However, after the land was leased, new owners restricted the pipeline's path, disconnecting it from the main supply. To make matters worse, wild cattle and horses damaged the infrastructure, worsening the water reliability issues.”
“With the Vunakailo Water Coverage Extension Project, these challenges will soon be a thing of the past,” Mr Chanan added.
Upon completion, the Vunakailo Water Coverage Extension Project will offer lasting benefits for residents, including:
- -A reliable and pressurised water supply for all 60 households.
- -Improved health outcomes by eliminating the risks of inconsistent water access.
- -Reduced reliance on costly water carting services.
- -Enhanced service delivery by WAF.
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This project not only marks a major win for Viseisei Backroad but also reflects WAF's continued commitment to improving the lives of Fiji’s communities. By tackling long-standing infrastructure challenges, the Vunakailo Water Coverage Extension Project is set to bring lasting, positive change to the lives of those who need it most.
Vunakailo and Velovelo were funded from the same budget, totalling $0.15 million.