Kinoya Wastewater Treatment Plant overloaded

The Kinoya Wastewater Treatment Plant is overloaded and the Water Authority of Fiji is now urgently dealing with the problem.

Water Authority of Fiji Chief Executive, Opetaia Ravai has admitted that the Kinoya Wasterwater Treatment Plant’s capacity is not ideal and it is leading to odour problems.

Ravai says it is also causing septic floods.

He says the unprecedented population growth and industrial and commercial expansion has outstripped the Wastewater Treatment Plants’ capacity to adequately cope with the demand for their services.

Ravai says some of the ponds in the plant have accumulated an estimated 80% volume of sludge.

He adds the excessive amount of solid waste and odour is attributed to untreated commercial and industrial waste which has not been removed for more than 40 years.

The Water Authority of Fiji has used more than $2 million so far to carry out de-sludge work at the plant.

Ravai says their long term plan is to construct a septic waste facility in the next 24 months to properly pre-treat septic waste before it enters the Kinoya system.

He has also revealed that they have compiled the draft of the Trade Waste Policy by laws and this will ensure that there are regulations and enforceable penalties for companies who do not comply.