27/05/09 - Borehole ends 20-year 'thirst'
SEVENTEEN families in Naikorokoro are smiling after a borehole was drilled in their settlement.
Three kilometres from Sigatoka Town, the settlement is home to 84 people, who over the years had to cart water from nearby creeks and rivers.
Naikorokoro Water Project's Committee vice president Jeet Singh said their problem dated back over 20 years.
"One family would require close to two drums of water each day and they use their bullocks to cart this through the terrain," he said.
"The tank has been commissioned on the mountain top to provide better force and now we receive piped water supply in our homes due to this project."
The $30,000 project funded by the Rotary Pacific Water for Life Foundation was commissioned last Saturday by foundation manager for Fiji Water Molly Powers.
The foundation was supported by partners Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation.
The project included drilling a borehole, installation of a 10,000 litre tank, a pump and piping to individual homes.
Mr Singh said the community's efforts to get a piped water supply had always been delayed because of what he termed 'logistic delays'.
"There is a government main pipe system just 15 metres from our settlement but due to funding and other delays the project never took off," Mr Singh said after the commissioning of the borehole.
Before the commissioning of the project, residents had to walk about 400 metres each day to the nearest creek, carrying their laundry for washing and bringing back containers of water for washing dishes and other household purposes.
Mr Singh said lighter loads were carried on their heads, and the heavier ones were drawn by bullocks.
FIJI TIMES, May 27, 2009
Three kilometres from Sigatoka Town, the settlement is home to 84 people, who over the years had to cart water from nearby creeks and rivers.
Naikorokoro Water Project's Committee vice president Jeet Singh said their problem dated back over 20 years.
"One family would require close to two drums of water each day and they use their bullocks to cart this through the terrain," he said.
"The tank has been commissioned on the mountain top to provide better force and now we receive piped water supply in our homes due to this project."
The $30,000 project funded by the Rotary Pacific Water for Life Foundation was commissioned last Saturday by foundation manager for Fiji Water Molly Powers.
The foundation was supported by partners Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation.
The project included drilling a borehole, installation of a 10,000 litre tank, a pump and piping to individual homes.
Mr Singh said the community's efforts to get a piped water supply had always been delayed because of what he termed 'logistic delays'.
"There is a government main pipe system just 15 metres from our settlement but due to funding and other delays the project never took off," Mr Singh said after the commissioning of the borehole.
Before the commissioning of the project, residents had to walk about 400 metres each day to the nearest creek, carrying their laundry for washing and bringing back containers of water for washing dishes and other household purposes.
Mr Singh said lighter loads were carried on their heads, and the heavier ones were drawn by bullocks.
FIJI TIMES, May 27, 2009
