Fiji Water and Wastewater Sector

The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) is responsible for providing access to quality drinking water and wastewater services to residential and non-residential metered customers in the urban areas of Fiji and setting up water supply systems in rural areas.  Around 82 percent of Fiji’s population has access to safe drinking water, i.e., 58 percent of those who reside in rural areas and 98 percent of urban dwellers.  Currently, only 28 percent of the population has access to the central sewerage system.  The Fijian Govt seeks to achieve the overall goal of 100 percent access to safe water supply and sewerage services which will require efforts of both public and private sector stakeholders.

A Discussion Paper on the Water Sector Strategy 2050 (released April 2023) provides insight into the sector’s challenges and proposed strategies to address these issues.

One of the main challenges for the sector is rural-urban migration which has placed increased pressure on aging assets and infrastructure.  Aging infrastructure is operating far beyond the capacity for which it was built and as a result 47 percent of water produced is lost through leaking pipelines and systems. Other challenges include: 

• Water utility not economically viable: Fiji has the cheapest water rates in the Pacific region at US$0.07 per 1,000 megaliters (FJ$0.15). Furthermore, the free water allowance scheme provides free water to households with an annual household income of less than US$13,500 (FJ$30,000) for up to 92,500 liters of water per year.  This means that WAF is not able to meet its operational costs and relies heavily on government funding for operational and capital expenditures. 
• Climate change and its impact on the environment: Dry periods can severely impact the water supply.  Flooding can cause wastewater to overflow and seep into local flora and fauna.
• Skills & Capability Gap: Lack of trained specialists in this sector.

In response to the challenges identified, below are some of the proposed strategies aimed at addressing these issues:

• Invest in new infrastructure that is climate-resilient and smart water networks to better control pressure and detect leakage in the systems. 
• Diversify water sources by incorporating groundwater sources into the water supply system and identifying and implementing desalination as a resilience strategy. 
• Decentralize wastewater treatment strategies to minimize costs involved in pipe networks and pumping; and implement non-sewered solutions in areas with no existing sewer network.
• Collaborate with landowners on catchment initiatives and projects in the rural areas. 
• Reinforce private sector partnerships through Private Public Partnerships (PPP) models for wastewater treatment infrastructure. Develop and strengthen partnerships with donor agencies for grants and other long-term funding options. 

For American companies offering engineering, consulting, or technology solutions that could fit into any of these priority areas there are opportunities to collaborate and partner with local firms on specific projects.  Companies interested in pursuing these opportunities are encouraged to contact the U.S. Commercial Service for assistance with market information and introductions to potential partners in Fiji.

For more information, please contact the U.S. Commercial Service in Fiji, email: Office.Fiji@trade.gov.