Residents in Suva, the capital of Fiji and a fast-growing metropolitan city, are constantly facing water supply disruptions.
The residents are raising questions about whether low water levels, rising demands, technical issues, power outages are causing disruptions to water supply and wondering what the government is doing to fix it, Fiji Village reports.
Fiji’s Water Authority CEO Barry Omundson says water supply disruption results from aging infrastructure coupled with rapid population growth.
He said his office is taking measures to minimize these disruptions and announced that they had invested $270 million into the Rewa River Water Supply Scheme to “build resilience and greater capacity in recognition of Suva’s increasing population.”
The investment will provide 40 million liters more water daily to residents of the greater Suva area.
Power outages and failure of a standby generator can also cause water disruptions.
Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate also reiterated the need to address their aging water infrastructure to keep water demands.
He said that the Rewa River Water Supply Scheme Project In Viria would benefit 300 thousand Fijians when it becomes fully operational by 2021.
Usamate says that the government has wanted to upgrade its water infrastructure in the last ten years.
Rapidly growing cities are a worldwide trend and impact every region. Growing city populations, including Fiji and Pacific island nations, pressure water supply and wastewater systems to sustain investment.
The implementation of infrastructure management practices will assist in meeting city growth challenges.
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