After 45 years, Ratu Emeri Primary School in Bua is in a better position to access clean water without any trouble.

This is after the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources permanent secretary Raijeli Taga commissioned their bore­hole water project on Wednes­day.

Ms Taga said the project start­ed with groundwater survey in 2016 to 2017.

The borehole drilling was conducted in 2017 to 2018 and reticulation programme from 2018 to 2019.

“The project is in line with the five and 20 years National Development Plan of Fiji un­der water and sanitation which aims to fulfill the sustainable development goal – clean and safe water in adequate quan­tity,” Ms Taga said.

“I am glad that my ministry is supporting and working to­wards achieving the national target of 100 per cent access to clean and safe drinking water to all Fijians in the rural com­munity by 2030.”

The total cost of the project is $70,000.

“The borehole is proven to be of good yield and good qual­ity which can supplement the water supply to the school and can be maintained over a number of years if sustainably managed,” she said.

“This borehole is estimated to directly benefit 125 people.”

She stressed to the school management the importance of looking after the project well.

Meanwhile, Ratu Emeri Pri­mary School head teacher Kiniviliame Naiki said since the school was built in 1974, it has been using different types of water source.

“Lately we were using water from the nearby spring,” Mr Naiki said.

“During rainy days the pipes get damaged and we would be without water.”

With the opening of this borehole project, he said their struggles and pain have been removed.

He thanked the ministry for its timely support.

They have about 116 students including pre-schoolers, 27 hostel students and six teach­ers.