The people of Komave Village, Baravi, Nadroga, celebrate tomorrow as Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama commissions the use of piped water into their households.

Feasting and merrymaking will be part of the event. It ends years of struggles to get clean, safe and reliable water into their homes.

The village has a population of 285. Government and the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), since last year had been building a dam for water catchment and installed water taps in homes. The project cost $109.000.

Mr Bainimarama, in the start of his tour of the Western Division, will stop at the village at 9am tomorrow to commission the new water system.

Matila Vitorina, 86, a villager, said she was lucky to see clean drinking water supplied to their homes.

“The water we had been drinking for years was not safe. Now with the dam made and a purifier used to clean the water, we are lucky because Government has supplied water right into our homes,” Ms Vitorina said.

“This will benefit our next generation and I am very, very lucky to live and see this day.”

She is from Vunibau in Serua. She has been living in the village for over 60 years.

“This is my home now because I got married here.”

Village spokesperson Josaia Katonivosa said: “The water supply is good now. The problem we faced before was how to bring water into our homes,” he said.

“Late last year Government started the project and with the 45 households we await the official opening by the PM.”

Edited by Maikeli Seru