Works to repair the leaking 711mm MSCL tee along the Vaturu-Nagado high pressure raw water pipeline started yesterday morning.

The pipeline at Batiri, near the Vaturu Dam, has been leaking for the past few weeks.

As a result of the leakage, water valued at about $30,000 was lost.

Water Authority of Fiji spokesperson Peni Shute said repair works on the leaking tee started at 8am yesterday.

“From 10pm on Thursday to 8am today (yesterday), we conducted valve operations to de-water that line to allow our crew and the contractor to start work,” he said.

“There is a lot of metal work to be done and the team will work throughout until it’s completed.”

WAF general manager customer services and acting general manager operations, Sekove Uluinayau said repair works on the leaking tee were very critical at this stage.

Mr Uluinayau said the leakage was deteriorating for the past few weeks and it would have been catastrophic to WAF if it continued.

He said the repair works had to be done this weekend to prevent the pipeline from collapsing, which would have then caused a major problem.

If the pipeline had collapsed, then the whole of Lautoka and Nadi would have been without piped water for three weeks or so.

WAF has placed 100 water tanks in nearly all villages and areas which are facing disruptions in supply.

The authority also has 19 trucks running to refill the tanks and to cart water to other people.

The shutdown in water supply to elevated areas in Lautoka is expected to continue until 6am on Tuesday.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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