The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) ensures that the water Fijians drink is safe and clean.

We are committed to providing a consistent supply of water to Fiji, says Board Chair Bhavesh Kumar as he explained how many capital projects Water Authority of Fiji undertook to get more Fijians connected to clean water.

CAPITAL PROJECTS:

For the 2018/2019 financial year, the Water Authority of Fiji, was tasked to carry out over 300 projects.

The capital project works which are currently being carried out by WAF are as follows:

• Replacement of old infrastructure;
• Extension of water reticulation systems;
• Additional reservoirs (Tasman tanks);
• Replacement of water pumps;
• Upgrading and maintenance of water and;
• Waste water treatment plants.

The WAF carried out the implementation of its annual capital expenditure projects under four modes of implementation which includes:

Construction

Upgrading and construction of new water and wastewater pipes, buildings, treatment plants, access roads and similar projects. These works are either carried out by the WAF in-house construction teams or outsourced to private contractors (procurement of works). Rural Water Supply projects are also included. Project staff are recruited to carry out in-house works.

Engineering service (Procurement of Services)

Contracting and engagement of Engineering Consultants to carry out services like design works, master plan studies, feasibility studies and Environment Impact Assessment studies.

Procurement of equipment

This includes equipment such as IT equipment, office equipment and outfits, OHS equipment, workshop tools and equipment, modelling software, surveying equipment, meters, pressure reducing valves, flow meters, valves, plastic water tanks, vehicles, generators, pumps, electrical switchboards. Some procurement activities are direct procurement where WAF will install equipment, however, others are “supply and install” contracts where the supplier is also required to install the equipment, for example; generators.

Operations-related works or programmes

This includes programmes such as Integrated Meter Management, Non-Revenue Water (NRW), Geographic Information System programmes, Modelling, Meter Replacement, Service Pipe Replacement, Boundary Valve Replacement, Air Valve Replacement, Pressure Management, Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), Water Carting to Rural and Non-Metered Areas, and Rainwater Harvesting Programmes. Project staff are engaged to implement these programmes.

The Water Authority also undertakes work for funded projects like the Suva to Nausori Water and Wastewater Project co-financed by the Government of Fiji, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The Fijian Government’s 5-Year and 20-Year ‘National Development Plan’ captures development plans, goals and strategies for Water & Waste Water. In addition, the 2013 Fijian Constitution’s Bill of Rights provides all citizens with the right to adequate food and water with the right to housing & sanitation under section 36 and 35 respectively.

Rural projects which are carried out by WAF are; Ecological Purification Systems (EPS), rainwater harvesting systems, free water tank initiative and construction of small water systems.

New connections

Additionally, in the current financial year, WAF expanded its services by giving provisions for new meter connections. A total of 1,942 new water meter connections were made.

This gave access to safe and clean drinking water to over 15,000 Fijians, an estimated total of 10,000 Fijians in the urban areas and an estimated total of 6,000 Fijians in the rural areas.

As of 30 April 2019, the Authority has 149,807 active customers around the country, with 137,291 Residential customers, 9,977 Commercial customers and 2,539 Institutional customers.

Remarks

WAF General Manager Customer Service and Acting General Manager Operations, Sekove Uluinayau welcomed the Fijian Government’s commitment to maintaining water supply around the country.

“We at WAF are thankful to the Fijian Government for providing support and we will continue to work to ensure that clean water and sanitation is provided to all Fijians,” said Mr Uluinayau. WAF Chairman Bhavesh Kumar also thanked the Fijian Government for their continued commitment to the people of Fiji having access to safe and clean drinking water.

“Receiving such strong and continued support from the Fijian Government provides us with the inspiration to carry out our objective to replace decades-old infrastructure and also connect thousands of Fijian families in remote and rural areas to water and sanitation,” said Mr Kumar.
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