Government of the Republic of Fiji
Government of the Republic of Fiji
03/04/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/03/2026 22:31
MINISTER PROVIDES UPDATE ON WATER SUPPLY...
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.
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.
Government of the Republic of Fiji published this content on March 04, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 04, 2026 at 04:31 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]