About 100 families in Vatutavui Village, Tavua, have been grappling with severe water supply issues for the past three weeks. The village, home to approximately 500 residents, entirely depends on a solar-powered borehole for its water supply. Due to the high demand, village headman Niko Sucuvakaivalu has been forced to ration the water, compelling residents to rely heavily on water tanks, drums, and bottled water.
The situation worsened recently when relief water supplies from the Water Authority of Fiji, which provided water tanks, abruptly ceased after Mr. Sucuvakaivalu halted the water carting services. This prompted a significant number of villagers, including Kirikiti Biu, the president of the Vatutavui drinking water committee, to voice their concerns about the increasingly limited water supply. Villagers now find themselves trekking 30 minutes to the nearest water source, which is a stream located over 1.5 kilometers away from their homes.
Biu emphasized the long-standing water access issues in the village, recalling discussions about securing a reliable water source that have arisen since the village’s establishment. He pointed out the urgency of their situation, especially considering the dry season’s harsh conditions, the lack of rainfall, and the presence of schoolchildren and sick elderly relatives who require adequate water supplies for their health and hygiene.
In 2017, the community took proactive steps by forming a water projects committee, which successfully raised funds to establish a borehole, supported by water tanks provided by the previous government. However, despite these efforts, the ongoing crisis has prompted pleas for immediate government intervention to restore carting services to residences.
The dire situation in Vatutavui resonates with similar challenges faced by other communities across Fiji, where inadequate water supply continues to disrupt daily life. For instance, residents of Vatudova near Labasa have endured a 50-year water crisis, relying on aging boreholes and local creeks for their needs, while the government has promised significant infrastructure upgrades in various areas to tackle persistent shortages.
Efforts are being made to address these widespread water access issues, as local authorities have recognized the need for improved water supply systems across affected regions. As infrastructure development progresses, communities hold onto hope that their struggles to access clean and reliable water will soon come to an end, paving the way for a more sustainable future.