The villagers of Vio Island in Lautoka are breathing a sigh of relief today as they can now wake up and have access to clean and safe drinking water right at their homes.

This is after the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama commissioned the Vio Water Project.

While speaking at the event, Bainimarama said when villagers see the stream of pumped water coming out of a new tap for the first time, they often break into tears of joy.

He says any Fijians come up to him and tell him that they never expected the day to come when they would have a safe and reliable water source.

Bainimarama says that previously the villagers needed to go to the mainland by boat, fill drums with water from a tap and cart the heavy containers back to be used for drinking and washing.

The Water Authority of Fiji has extended Lautoka’s existing reticulation system to Vio, piping water from the mainland under the seabed and directly to the community.

The Prime Minister has also urged the villagers not to waste water and care for the new system that has been provided for them.

The project will benefit over 250 Fijians living on the island.