Residents of Maravu Settlement in Laucala Beach Estate are vulnerable to sickness because an old and rusty wastewater trunk line is left exposed.

The main waste-water trunk line carries all untreated waste from the greater Suva area to Kinoya Waste Treatment plant.

Sumair Dass, 73, who has been living at the settlement for more than 16 years said the wastewater trunk line was very old.

“I keep my windows and doors closed all the time as the stench is unbearable and I wait until the wind direction changes,” Mr Dass said.

Worse still, a wastewater trunk line near the bridge on Kings Road broke off last Saturday after heavy rains. The damage has caused waste spilling into the river.

Water Authority of Fiji chief executive officer Opetaia Ravai said they were working on a temporary pipe to address the issue.

“There can be issues of odour and stench and we are looking at mitigating that as well,” Mr Ravai said.

Mr Dass said the pipes were rusty and they were used as a walkway for many people.

“I think if we are constantly exposed to such sewage waste, it can be hazardous to health,” Mr Dass said.

He hopes that relevant authorities would fix the pipe as soon as possible because it was unhygienic and unpleasant.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services media liaison officer Sunil Chandra is advising people to refrain from using the creek running along Maravu Settlement at all times.

“As this is the rainy season children often play in water and the ministry strongly suggests to people not to use the creek for any purpose such as swimming, fishing and other activities,” Mr Chandra said.

He said WAF was working to restore the trunk lines as soon as possible.

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