WAF confirms total damages sustained by TC Keni and Josie estimated at $3.5M

Water Authority of Fiji has confirmed that the total damages to it’s infrastructure sustained from Tropical Cyclones Keni and Josie is estimated at $3.5 million.

The Authority’s Chief Operating Officer, Samanmal Ekanayake says Ba was the hardest hit by the cyclones where the pumps in Nadrau and Varaciva Pumping Stations were put out of operation by flood waters but now have resumed operations.

Ekanayake says they are currently restoring pipelines which were washed away by flood waters in the three systems feed from Waiwai, Varaciva and Balevuto in Ba.

Ekanayake says water supply in Rakiraki, Tavua, Nadi, Sigatoka and Labasa are almost back to normal as the Authority addresses the causes of major disruptions.

He says water supply has now been restored in 85 percent of areas in Lautoka and Ba as they continue to work around the clock to restore damaged infrastructure caused by major flooding last week.

Ekanayake says Lautoka's Buabua reservoir which sustained pipeline damage to its intakes and restricting the full resumption of water delivery, is now expected to normalise.