Four hundred villagers of Nagigi, Nasavusavu in Cakaudrove, in Vanua Levu now have access to piped drinking water after the completion of their Rural Water Project.

The $224,628 project, which was outsourced by the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) to Taviraki Building and Civil Works Limited, saw the construction of a new dam, a new 21,000 gallon ferro-cement tank, the laying of 250 lengths (1.4km) of 80mm, 300 lengths (1.67km) of 50mm of uPVC pipes, and 10 lengths of 80mm galvanized pipe and 20 coils of polythene pipes along trenched paths.

WAF chief operating officer Samanmal Ekanayake said the outsourcing model that the Authority was now implementing empowered the community by paying the water committee for the village support required to undertake the works.

“This empowers the village water committee to be responsible for ongoing maintenance and repairs, thus ensuring the longevity and sustainability of their village water supply system. This also builds the local capacity of contractors to undertake water supply construction work,” said Mr Ekanayake.

Mr Ekanayake said that the village water committee received $4,017 as payment for the village assistance provided.

Mr Ekanayake said the villagers now enjoyed a reliable supply of water and an improved water system performance, and a water source that would withstand dry seasons.

Nagigi Village headman, Tomasi Lawana, 50, thanked the Water Authority of Fiji for the water project.

“We thank the team from the Water Authority of Fiji who helped us lay pipes from the water source, to each and every house in this village. We are very grateful for this project because we now have a reliable and consistent water supply,” said Mr Lawana.

Nagigi Village Nurse, Maopa Bisila Lawana, 52, said she was grateful for the assistance from the water project.

“I am thankful because, in the past, the water we relied on was inconsistent and we had to open and close the valves to have water during the time we needed it the most. This is a thing of the past as we now enjoy a 24/7 supply of water,” said Mrs Lawana.

Mr Ekanayake said WAF would continue to implement works that ensured Fijians had access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation.

Source: Water Authority of Fiji

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