26 Jan 2006

Water supply disrupted to tens of thousands in Fiji

9:34 am on 26 January 2006

Many areas of the Fiji capital, Suva, including critical streets are without water this morning following disruptions to the supply in areas outside the city all this week.

Radio Legend that many parts of the heavily populated Suva-Nausori corridor, home to tens of thousands of people and many businesses, are also without water as are substantial areas of the adjacent town of Lami and nearby Veisari.

The radio says the Public Works Department has revealed that the water supply was shut down yesterday to carry out urgent repairs to the Tamavua and Waila treatment plants.

But the problem was worsened by a burst main supplying the treatment plants and low levels in catchment areas.

Much of the capital and the Suva-Nausori corridor is expected to remain without water today and many schools and businesses will be forced to shut down.

A water supply engineer, David Grinter, has been quoted as saying supplies are expected to return to normal by the weekend.