Tabia Farmers Strain Unsafe Drinking Water
‘No matter how many requests we make, it takes ages for them to finally respond to our request. We are told there’s no water cart’.
Tuesday 16 January 2024 | 21:45
The farming community of Nabelevu, Tabia, in Labasa is forced to strain their drinking water from a deplorable and half-dried-up borehole by using a clothe, as it is unsafe to drink.
The area, located about a 20-minute drive from Labasa Town, is home to around 10 families.
Water woes have been a problem for many years.
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The majority of the residents are sugarcane and livestock farmers.
Today, they are appealing to authorities and the Government to step in and assist them.
There is no normal Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) pipeline directed to this community; instead, WAF often supplies them with water upon request.
For this request, they would need to obtain a request number from WAF’s Labasa Office so water carts could deliver water.
Sadly, this normal procedure has WAF Labasa officials scrambling for resources to look for water carts.
Saras Wati, 60, has been living in the area for 40 years.
She raised all three of her children there; one of them is a police officer.
“It’s frustrating because we follow the process of getting water; nothing comes,” Ms Wati claimed.
“No matter how many requests we make, it takes ages for them to finally respond to our request. We are told there’s no water cart.”
Fiji Sun gathered an instance where Ms Wati requested water cartage, but to no avail.
Sara Wati with her request lodged on January 16, 2024. Photo: Jone Salusalu
Last Thursday, he lodged a request at number 2153403, and he claimed no one came too.
“We have to send our children to school; where do we get our water from?”
After Fiji Sun queried WAF, branch community engagement officer Patricia Motufaga clarified the request number 2117670 was attended to in November.
She said they were working to ensure all other requests were attended to in the area.
Ms Motufaga did not respond to claims of fewer water carts available to serve affected communities.
“The only problem we face is the road that goes up to Nabelevu; water carts often face difficulty going up,” she said.
“As for requests, please, I urge them to always follow up on their requests one week before they finish their water supply.”
Feedback: jone.salusalu@fijisun.com.fj
