Lami Residents Endure Ongoing Water Cuts

Personally, I think it’s just neglect.

This was highlighted by Delainavesi resident Mosese Koroi yesterday, who has been enduring daily water cuts for years.

Today, Fijians will commemorate World Water Day at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka.

On the contrary outside the capital city, Lami residents continue to struggle with unreliable water supply.

Water supply there is only available between 3am and 8am, forcing families to wake up early to fill up water containers, have their showers, cleanup and other household chores.

Then the rest of the day, they’d wait for water trucks that will arrive after three days.

“We’ve sort of changed our normal way of living getting up early in the mornings to do our chores,” Mr Koroi said.

“I have health issues, and this situation is very difficult. I am also sure it is affecting new mothers and housewives and others,” he said.

“A cousin of mine died, the funeral will be tomorrow (today). We had to spend extra money to buy a tank just to store enough water for the funeral.

“This money could have been saved if we had normal water supply,” he said.

Mr Koroi, who has lived in Delainavesi for 50 years, said Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) only provided announcements about intermittent water supply.

“They do not distribute flyers, they just inform us through social media updates,” he said.

Business affected

Vishas Mini Mart owner Natasha Ben also struggles with irregular water supply.

Although Ms Ben has large water tanks, she loses valuable time filling them up at odd hours.

“Water comes on at 3am then stops by 8.30 am,” Ms Ben said.

“We have to wake up in the middle of the night to fill up our tanks and it is frustrating.”

As a good neighbour she also shares water to neighbours who run short of water during the day.

“People come with buckets and containers, especially those with small kids. We feel sorry for them,” she said.

“Making things worse, if we call for a water truck today, it will arrive after two days.”

Ms Ben does not allow her family to drink tap water, adding she does not trust the water tanks either.

Govt’s acknowledgement

In an earlier interview with this masthead, Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau acknowledged long-standing water issues affecting Lami, Delainavesi, and other parts of the Suva to Nausori corridor.

“The situation may seem chaotic, but let me assure you that we are making steady progress toward long-term solutions,” Ro Filipe said.

“We recognise that service disruptions cause significant inconvenience to residents and businesses,” he said.

“We are taking urgent and decisive actions to improve the reliability and sustainability of the water supply system.”

While Ro Filipe urges members of the public to be patient, he said that by the end of the Government’s four-year term in December 2026, major water issues in Lami and surrounding areas would be a thing of the past.

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