WAINIVELI, FIJI — For the first time in 60 years, the remote settlement of Wainiveli in the District of Lovoni, Ovalau has a stable water source, thanks to the construction of a new water dam. This marks a historic moment for the community, which has faced persistent water shortages for decades.
Wainiveli Dam. Wainiveli reservoir.
The new dam was officially unveiled recently, bringing much-needed relief to residents who have long relied on nearby streams for their daily water needs.
"I've been living here for 56 years, and the water problem has always been an ongoing issue," said 76-year-old Vilisi Bulilagi, a lifelone resident of Wainiveli. We were always fetching water from the nearby streams for cooking, washing, cleaning, and drinking. It has been hard all these years, and now we can finally be at ease."
Vilisi Bulilagi 76, Wainiveli resident.
WCS, which led the construction in collaboration with the Water Authority of Fiji, selected Wainiveli as one of its project sites as part of a larger effort to enhance climate resilience and community health in the Vatu-i-Ra Seascape.
"I would like to acknowledge the development taking place in Wainiveli, the construction of the dam and thank the Wildlife Conservation Society for choosing our settlement," Bulilagi added.
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