The Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport, Hon. Ro Filipe Tuisawau, has provided an update on the restoration of water supply services following the impact of Tropical Cyclone Urmil and the associated heavy rainfall and flooding experienced across parts of the country.
The severe weather brought intense rainfall across several water catchments, resulting in extremely high turbidity levels in raw water sources, intake blockages, flooding of pump stations and damage to sections of raw water pipelines. These conditions temporarily disrupted water production and supply in several areas across the Western, Central and Northern Divisions.
During periods of extreme rainfall, rivers and raw water sources can experience very high turbidity levels caused by sediment and debris being washed into catchments. These conditions make it significantly more difficult for treatment plants to produce safe drinking water and can temporarily reduce production while treatment processes stabilise.
Minister Tuisawau said the Government has been closely monitoring the situation and working with the Water Authority of Fiji to ensure restoration works continue as quickly and safely as possible.
“Following the cyclone, Water Authority of Fiji operational teams were immediately mobilised across affected areas to clear debris from raw water intakes, repair damaged infrastructure, restore pump station operations and stabilise treatment plant production," Minister Tuisawau said.
The Western Division experienced some of the most significant impacts, particularly across the Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki, Lautoka and Sigatoka systems, where flooding and debris disrupted water production.
Supply in Rakiraki has now been fully restored, while restoration in Lautoka, Tavua, Ba and Sigatoka continues as desilting works, infrastructure repairs and system stabilisation progress.
In the Central Division, prolonged rainfall significantly increased turbidity levels in the Tamavua catchment, temporarily reducing production at the Tamavua Water Treatment Plant. Production levels are now steadily recovering as treatment operations stabilise.
Localised disruptions were also experienced in parts of the Northern Division, with restoration works continuing to maintain stable system operations.
Minister Tuisawau acknowledged the ongoing efforts of Water Authority of Fiji teams working on the ground to restore services and thanked members of the public for their patience and understanding while restoration works continue.
The government will continue to monitor restoration progress closely while supporting efforts to return all affected water supply systems to normal operations as quickly and safely as possible.