Managing Water Resource in Navaca Settlement – South

Taveuni

GEO 703: GIS & REMOTE SENSING ASSIGNMENT ONE

AUTHOR: FILOMENA SAVAIRA GEMA

STUDENT ID: A00188833

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
FIJI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
 ABSTRACT

Water is a basic need that no human can be denied, no matter the remoteness
of his location or the distance from constant surface water and groundwater
sources. All humans deserve to be provided with sufficient supply of fresh and
clean water for daily use. This research has focused mainly on water
management practices in Navaca settlement, looking closely at the different
water sources available to these remote rural citizens of Fiji, the storage
methods used by local residents and how the residents of Navaca have
managed and adapted to the water problems which has plagued them for
several years. Despite, the difficulties, the high cost of water storage
containers, Navaca residents have endured and strived on over the years not
allowing this barrier to deter them from achieving better living standards for
their growing families. Little has been done to assist this rural population as
the government has installed a desalination plant which breaks down and
malfunctions almost every other month leaving residents to cling to false
hopes as they try to survive on whatever little they have with no other water
source to turn to apart from the blessings from the heavens they collect as
rain. There is hope yet, that in the years to come residents will be able to look
into forming a water committee to look into the water problems in the area
and apply for donor agencies to fund more water storage containers as this
seems to be the only practical solution at the moment.

KEYWORDS
i. Water resource management

ii. Surface water

iii. Ground water

iv. Ground water lenses

v. Submarine groundwater discharge

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 1.0 INTRODUCTION
“For thousands of years humans, like animals and plants, used water
without disturbing nature’s balance too much. And some people still
live in this way. But during the last two centuries, industries, transport
and population have grown so fast that they have affected the earth’s
water. Water on earth is changing. Across the world, life in rivers, lakes
and seas is being destroyed as humans cause harmful pollution” (Grant
& Haswell, 2000). Managing water resource is a growing concern for
many nations today and the fact that climate is changing at a rapid rate
will only worsen the problems surrounding water security and supply.
Recent research has already confirmed that water scarcity affects more
than forty percent of the global population. Hence, research in this area
will help to ensure that water is managed wisely and used sustainably.
Water is a basic need essential for life but many communities in Fiji
regardless of whether rural or urban face a common threat to their
water needs and that is the shortage of supply and contamination. For
years, the greater Suva and Lautoka areas have faced water cuts and
while these problems are recurring, little have been done to educate
people on water management practices. “Water resource management
is the process of planning, developing and managing water resources,
in terms of both water quantity and quality, across all water uses. It
includes the institutions, infrastructure, incentives, and information
systems that support and guide water management.” (The World Bank
Group, 2022). According to The World Bank, Fiji has one of highest per-
capita fresh water resources in East Asia and the Pacific. However,
these water resources are not evenly distributed—they are not equally
plentiful in all places, nor is water equally available at all times. (Kumar,
2010)

There are numerous small islands in Fiji which have a very low
elevation. Surface water availability is a problem in some islands, which
rely exclusively on groundwater and may or may not attempt to use
rainwater. Rainwater harvesting using roof systems is widespread in
Fiji but the psychology of rural people may fail to consider the
possibility of extreme climate events and drought when there is
relatively abundant water for most of the time (for instance providing
small capacity storage instead of larger capacity). Some conflicts have
occurred over surface water availability. In particular, there are
conflicts between water for irrigation and water for other purposes in
one or two cases. Groundwater occurs on both the large islands and
small low-lying islands, but the groundwater issues and challenges in
these different physical environments differ. Groundwater is found in
superficial and medium-depth strata on the larger islands of Viti Levu
and Vanua Levu and some large islands, in either fractured rock or
sedimentary formations. Groundwater resources on small islands such

2
as Taveuni play a very different role. There are cases in Fiji of islands
with superficial groundwater lenses in sand beds or coral formations,
which lie on marine water and can be readily exhausted. The fragility
of superficial groundwater lenses means that they need to be carefully
managed (SOPAC, 2007). Unfortunately for the residents of the area of
survey, the only surface water they have known for decades is water
from the ocean, otherwise, there are no groundwater sources in the area
studied. The only other natural water source is rain water.

In any area, as the population increases, there is unprecedented

pressure on water resources and since the global population is growing
rapidly, conflicts will arise and water will be the main cause. This
research focuses on managing water resources in a remote, rural
maritime location in the island of Taveuni, Fiji.

The area of survey covered for this research is Navaca Settlement which
is located in the Southern end of the island of Taveuni in the Vuna
district. It is approximately four kilometers away from Vuna village
which is further South and at least twenty-two kilometers away from
Waiyevo or the government station in Taveuni. This small settlement
sits on what used to be a small town or “the capital of Taveuni”
according to locals. In the past, Taveuni’s commercial center was
located in the area as Navaca was a hub for trade and other commercial
activities. Today, Navaca Settlement is home to approximately thirty-
five families whereby twenty-two stay within the vicinity of the primary
and secondary school which sits on Navaca soil. Those staying outside
the school perimeter rely mainly on farming as a source of income while
a few works in the nearby Paradise Resort or do casual work. All the
families in this area face water problems on a daily basis and not just
for the past few years as water shortage has been a chronic problem in
the Vuna district which goes back over a decade. While all the villages
in the north of the island of Taveuni boast constant water supply from
groundwater sources, the southern side of the island unfortunately,
where Navaca settlement is located have dry streams or riverbeds which
only fill up during long periods of torrential rain. What once used to be
the largest copra estate in the South of Taveuni owned by Mr. James
Valentine Tarte, the area was further subdivided into smaller divisions
or blocks one of which is Navaca where many families from the
neighboring villages of Vuna and Navakawau now reside. The main
water source in Navaca before used to be a borehole providing sufficient
piped water to the then population. Unfortunately, the borehole
suddenly went dry in 2014 and this was attributed to a shift in the rock
formation that supported the underground water source. (The Jet: Fiji's
First Newspaper, 2015)

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 Fig. 1 Map of Taveuni Island (Source: Google Earth Pro)

Fig. 2 Southern tip of Taveuni Island where Navaca settlement is.

(Source: Google Earth Pro)

4
 Fig. 3 A closer view of Navaca settlement marked by the blue
boundary, (Source: Google Earth Pro)

This research will focus particularly on investigating the natural water

sources in the area of survey including other sources of water,
examining the water storage methods used by local residents and
whether these storage methods have been effective in ensuring a
constant and safe supply of water, studying the sample population and
inspecting whether the supply of water meets the demands, analyzing
the different problems faced with regards to water and documenting
whether proper water management practices have been implemented to
ensure water safety and security in the long run.

For a population or settlement to thrive, their basic necessities for

survival need to be met and one such need is water. Water is life and
without it, the human race may as well die out. If water problems are
not solved, then the economy will be adding pressure to their health
sector as water shortage and contamination will pose major health
problems to people of rural location who still lead a communal lifestyle.
Apart from this, children in areas that face water problems will be
deprived of good hygiene practices, proper sanitation and a good
education. If any nation ignores the need for electricity, better roads
and higher education institutions in rural areas, then local

5
communities will still be able to manage without the above or thrive but
if the government ignores the outcry for providing sufficient clean water
in any rural settlement, then the country has a real genuine problem.
The government may as well deprive them of their very existence which
is unjust, a deprivation of the basic right to human survival, denying
rural communities such as Navaca the ability to live in a clean and
healthy environment, denying them sustainable goal number three:
good health and well-being as well as sustainable goal number six:
clean water and sanitation.

As the world’s population continue to increase and people claim to have

more education than others, there is a need to relook at managing the
earth’s resources so that the current generation does not compromise
the ability of the future generation to meet their needs. Many
governments have come and gone in Fiji and Taveuni has lived through
many general elections but the needs of the local population have not
been met, mainly the need for water in the Southern end of Taveuni.
While water needs have not been met and the future for it is still quite
bleak, residents of Navaca settlement have managed for decades and
adapted well to the water issues in the area. Any hope for a positive
outcome may have been lost as the issue surrounding water has seen
through many generations of Navaca residents. Unlike a village setting,
it is quite difficult to implement mitigation systems in such an area as
it is a scattered settlement, the houses are far apart and some have
been fenced for privacy purpose. Challenges toward achieving
sustainable water supplies also include a lack of recognition for the role
of strong watershed management and discontinuity between policy
makers, policy instrumentation, managers and scientists (Hunter,
Zmirou, & Hartemann, 2009). A report from UNED Forum, also outlines
that: “(…) the reasons for the water crisis are not technological or
financial, but are rooted in mismanagement and the inequitable
allocation of resources throughout society. The political nature of some
of the proposed ‘solutions’ to the water crisis, such as privatization of
water or biotechnology require frank public debate, with full
engagement at the local level”. (United Nations Environment and
Development, 2000)

Over the past decade, the Fijian government budget has allocated
millions to the development of rural water supply but unfortunately the
distribution of such an allocation has been inequitable as only a
significant few have gained while a larger proportion of the Fijian
population are still challenged by water supply problems on a daily
basis especially those of Navaca Settlement in Taveuni for which this is
a chronic problem that will be discussed further in this article.

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 AIMS
The aims of this research are to
• find out the different water sources available to the residents of
Navaca,
• examine water management practices utilized by residents to
ensure sufficient water is available to all and
• evaluate the possible solutions in ensuring that water is managed
wisely and used sustainably.

OBJECTIVES
From the aims above, four objectives were derived and they are to:
➢ Investigate the different water sources in Navaca
➢ Document the water management practices used by the
residents
➢ Analyse the problems faced regarding water
➢ Research ways to manage water wisely and suggest positive
improvements in the managing of water
➢ Find alternative water sources and management practices

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 METHODOLOGY/RESEARCH METHOD

Information for this research report was gathered using the following
research methods:

1. Primary Research
i. Questionnaire Survey
Twenty questions were formulated and distributed among the
residents of Navaca which were later collected for further
analysis and documentation. Unfortunately, only a few made
its way back for further analysis. Hence, the reason for
conducting some personal interview with a few of the
residents.

ii. Personal interview

Some residents of Navaca were also interviewed to gather a
brief history about the area of survey.

iii. Field Survey

I also took the time out to visit the area and observe and take
pictures relevant to my research topic. I have also lived in
Navaca area for the past eight years and have experienced
life in an area with major water problems.

2. Secondary Research
i. Internet
The internet was used to gather information pertaining to the
research topic and this has been really helpful.

ii. Textbook
Textbook research was also carried out in the South Taveuni
School Library to help collate information relating to the
topic.

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2.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

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 2.1 Water sources in Navaca settlement
According to the survey conducted, the vast majority of Navaca residents
depend solely on rain water as their main water source. While there are other
sources of ground and surface water in all parts of Fiji, residents of Navaca
have not been as fortunate as the area does not have any streams or nearby
rivers. It is located on the coast, so the only other water source for the
residents is the ocean. The following are some of the water sources that are
found in Fiji which will be discussed in comparison and in relation to those
that are available in Navaca settlement:
2.1.1 Surface water
Surface water is any body of water above ground, including streams, rivers,
lakes, wetlands, reservoirs, and creeks. The ocean, despite being saltwater, is
also considered surface water (National Geographic Society, 2022). In the case
of Navaca Settlement, the only surface water available is the ocean and an
estuary which is surrounded by mangrove swamps as can be seen in the
picture below.
i. Streams/Creek water
The water in this creek/stream is never safe for drinking primarily
because the water is brackish and also surrounding this environment
is the South Taveuni Primary and Secondary school which sometimes
pollute the nearby stream as the secondary school incinerator was first
located just beside the creek before the rubbish dump site was moved
further to the back where the school ground is but still located beside
the creek. Also, the secondary school ablution block is situated near
the creek with the back part of the building facing the creek. Hence,
due to heavy pollution, water from the creek cannot be used for drinking
but sometimes students utilize this water to wash the school lavatories
and only a few residents of Navaca settlement use this water for
washing purposes and for such cases, people have to move further
upstream beyond the secondary school rubbish dump site to use the
creek water and this only happens after prolonged periods of rain when
strong currents will wash away the pollutants in the creek.

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Fig. 4 A view of estuary and creek marked by the yellow boundary,
(Source: Google Earth Pro)

Fig. 5 School rubbish dump. The big trees stand on each side of the
creek. The creek runs in between. (Source: Personal Collection)

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ii. Rivers
A river is “a natural stream of water of usually considerable volume”
(Merriam-Webster, 2023). In the area of survey, Navaca, there are no
nearby rivers. However, in the Vuna district or the South of Taveuni
there are many at least five river and/or stream beds lying dry with only
sedimentary rocks which form the river and/or bed exposed and dry
and in some covered with creeping plants. According to the
respondents, these rivers only fill up during a period of very heavy
rainfall that goes on for several days. Otherwise, they are useless to
nearby residents as they are almost always dry all year round.

Fig. 6 The stream/riverbeds in Navaca look somewhat like the one in

the picture above with bigger rocks in most places. (Wall, 2020)
iii. Ocean
As for water from the sea, in Navaca, seawater is converted to fresh
water in the local desalination plant set up by the government under
the banner of Water Authority of Fiji. Otherwise, local residents have
no choice but to use sea water when their tank water supply run dry.
In most cases, sea water is used for the sole purpose of bathing whereby
young energetic members of the family have to go for a swim in the sea
and bath at the same time, then use only a basin or two of fresh water
to wash off the saltiness when they get home. Further details regarding
the desalination plant is provided in subtopic 1.5.

iv. Rainwater
One hundred percent of the residents in Navaca settlement rely or
depend on rain water on a day to day basis. Rainwater has been
itemized under surface water sources because it rains from the skies
and is collected in tanks or through other rainwater harvesting
mechanisms but there is no doubt that rain is the main source of water
supply for the residents of Navaca.

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2.1.2 Ground water
Groundwater is water that has infiltrated the ground to fill the spaces between
sediments and cracks in rock. Groundwater is fed by precipitation and can
resurface to replenish streams, rivers, and lakes. (National Geographic
Society, 2022). The origin, movement and existence of groundwater depends
on several factors such as slope, drainage density, land use, geology,
lineament density and geomorphology (Rajaveni, Brindha, & Elango, 2015).
The only groundwater source known in Navaca over the years is what they
call the ‘tuvu’ or submarine spring which is a freshwater source that spurts
out in the ocean, nearer to the beach during low tides.

i. Submarine groundwater discharge/springs

Submarine springs are obviously caused by artesian flow of
groundwater in response to pressure gradients in aquifers and breaches
in confining layers (Moore, 2009). Submarine groundwater discharge
(SGD), which occurs as springs and seeps in near-shore areas, is one
of the pathways of water discharge from land to the ocean in the global
water cycle (Taniguchi, Burnett, Cable, & Turner, 2003).Submarine
springs are found in many parts of the world and some of these are
large enough to provide fresh water for human needs (Kohout, 1966).
Research suggests that scientists have not given this water source
much thought. According to Nils Moosdorf, a geologist at the Leibniz
Centre for Tropical Marine Research in Bremen/Germany “It is
estimated that submarine groundwater discharge accounts for up to
ten per cent of the water carried into the sea through rivers.” (Moosdorf
& Oehler, 2017) Moosdorf and his scientific fellow Till Oehler are
studying the importance of such springs for humans and coastal
ecosystems. The scientists went on a search for submarine fresh water
springs and got lucky finding evidence across the globe in ancient
scripts, travel guides, diving magazines, press articles and through folk
memory. “In island states with a shortage of water, such as Tahiti or
Fiji, the population still rely on freshwater springs if the water supply
breaks down… For washing, people then use the freshwater springs at
the beach.” (Rural21, 2017). Similarly, in Navaca settlement, there is a
few spots in the sea or by the beach where during low tide freshwater
springs well up to the surface and women use this opportunity to wash
clothes. An illustration of this scenario is pictured below.

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 Fig. 7 Submarine springs. (Moosdorf & Oehler, 2017)
In neighboring villages in the Vuna district, one can notice that areas
where submarine springs are located, locals have made a boundary
using rocks to curtain off this area locally known as “tuvu”. Cordoning
off the area where a spring is found is usually done for washing
purposes during low tide and to prevent children and others from
contaminating this freshwater source. A similar method is presented in
the picture below.

Fig. 8 Boundary of rocks surrounding the spring

(Moosdorf & Oehler, 2017)

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 2.2 Water Problems Faced by Navaca Residents
According to interview and the questionnaire survey, the following are some
of the problems in regards to water use and consumption in Navaca
Settlement faced by one hundred percent of the population:
2.2.1 Absence of a constant water supply – this is a major problem for the
residents since there are no consistent freshwater sources from dams or
reservoirs to ensure that daily water needs are met.

2.2.2 Delay in supply from water carts – the government through Water
Authority of Fiji have a system in place whereby families that need water can
call a toll-free number 1507 or 1508 depending on their area to ask for
assistance in carting freshwater to their area to fill up their tanks after which
a request number is given and followed through by water cart truck drivers.
Although this initiative has worked over the years, the major problem is that
the delivery is always delayed as water carts have a larger area to cover and
cater for, there are not many trucks and sometimes there is confusion on the
location as Navaca is a scattered settlement where the houses are far apart
whereby drivers face the problem of having to enquire neighbors and other
residents on the exact location of the person who made the request. Also,
sometimes water cart drivers encounter people along the way who may not
have made the call to request for water through the system but still beg drivers
for water and under humanitarian grounds, the drivers are forced to give and
when they finally reach their destination they are unable to fill up the tanks
to their maximum capacity as water has been shared along the way or in the
same area. These leaves many of the residents disappointed but they accept
the reality later on as they know everyone in Navaca and the south of Taveuni
suffer the same chronic problem which is water shortage.

2.2.3 Water contamination (Fig.9 & 10) – water in Navaca is usually

contaminated by mosquito larvae as well as dirty roofs, tanks and guttering.
Since, everyone in the area rely on rain water harvests, there is usually
ignorance in the part of cleaning and maintenance. With guttering showing
signs of algae and moss growing around them or some collecting dead leaves
from nearby trees with little effort evident on trimming or cutting of nearby
trees to ensure that the gutters are always clean.

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Fig. 9 (Source: Personal Collection)

Fig. 10 (Source: Personal Collection)

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2.2.4 High chlorine content – water supplied by the water cart or even from the
desalination plant sometimes present a very odd white color with a strong
smell of chlorine almost like Janola bleach according to the respondents.
This prevents them from being able to drink or use said water to make tea
as the taste is unpleasant and sometimes unbearable. Chlorine is added to
disinfect water and make it safe for drinking but too much chlorine can
lead to unpleasant taste and smell which some people are not able to
tolerate especially those in rural areas.

2.2.5 High salinity – water from the desalination plant which the Navaca residents
also rely on always have some salt content present in it which makes it
unsuitable and unsafe for drinking. Also, because of its’ location nearer to
the sea during periods of strong winds and heavy rain like in a cyclone or
tropical storm, residents have to cover their tanks so as to prevent strong
winds blowing from the sea from carrying salinized particles of water into
their tanks and contaminating stored water, thus making it unsuitable for
drinking.

2.2.6 Untreated water – as the Navaca residents rely primarily on rainwater

harvested in tanks, the high risk is that rain water is untreated and may
lead to other health concerns for the residents because rain water can carry
bacteria, viruses and other toxic chemicals in the form of acid rain which
can cause sickness and diseases. The health of all residents is at stake as
rainwater may no longer be safer than it used to be.

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 2.3 Water Collection and Storage Methods Used by the
Residents

Analysis of Water Storage Units in Navaca Settlement

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
tanks drums both neither

(Source: Questionnaire Survey)

The graphic presentation above is based on information gathered from the
questionnaire survey Q.9. According to the responses, majority of the
residents have tanks or use water tanks for water storage. Seeing as this is
an expensive option especially for those who own 5000 liters capacity tank, it
was then found that most of these tanks were donated by the government
through an initiative managed by the Water Authority of Fiji after tropical
cyclone Winston in February, 2016. Apart from the 5000 liters tanks, some of
the residents especially those that reside in the school compound use the
2000 liters capacity tank which is white in color personally bought from
around 120 to 200 dollars in local stores around the area. These were once
used for oil storage but have been thoroughly cleaned by the buyers before
use. Likewise, a few families use small 1000 liters capacity tanks which have
been kindly donated by Rotary Club. A further 60 percent of the respondents
use drums for water storage and this is something that cannot be missed if
one visits the area as the drums are bright yellow and bright blue in color
with a capacity of 60litres costing around forty-five to sixty dollars in local
shops in the area. While there is no house in the area that does not have water
storage containers, at least forty percent have both tanks and drums which
allows them to store more water and for those families that have both, most
of them are extended family units, hence the need for more water storage
containers.
Overall, many of the interviewees and respondents have expressed
appreciation towards the tanks donated after cyclone Winston as according
to them, these tanks are quite expensive to purchase on their own keeping in

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mind that many of these residents are either small scale farmers or casual
workers.

Fig. 11 Water tanks in Navaca area (Source: Personal Collection)

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 2.4 Navaca Desalination Plant
Residents of Navaca and the Vuna district in the South of Taveuni were
fortunate recipient of this government initiative which cost around 2.5 million
dollars. Work on the three desalination plants in Navaca settlement began in
2014 and the plant was officially opened in 2015 by the then Prime Minister,
Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama. This initiative was supposed to benefit close to
2000 people in the south of Taveuni (Shamim, 2015). Running the plant has
not been easy and according to local residents of Navaca, there have been
many problems encountered over the years with water from the plant and
other technical and mechanical problems with the desalination plant itself.

Fig. 12 WAF Desalination plant in Navaca, Taveuni, 2023.

(Personal Collection)

Fig. 13 WAF Desalination plant in Navaca, Taveuni, 2015.

(Vula, 2015)

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1.4.1 Uses of water from the plant

Through information gathered from the questionnaire survey, the following

data was recorded.

Fig. 14 Analysis of Water Use From the Desalination

Plant
120%

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%
drinking cooking only washing clothes toilet use washing pots & bathing
pans

Uses of Water From the Desalination Plant

(Source: Questionnaire Survey)

Although water from the plant has been desalinized, the salt content in it is
still quite obvious in the taste of the water. Hence, it is deemed unsuitable
and unpleasant for drinking. As presented in the graph above, none of the
respondents use water from the desalination plant for drinking. A few have
complained that the water is rather salty while some have resonated that it
causes stomach ache. All of the respondents have claimed that water from the
plant is only best used in the latrines for flushing and cleaning purposes.
While forty percent of the respondents agree that water from the plant can be
used for washing clothes, some have disagreed stating that due to its’ salinity,
water from the plant does not lather easily with soap and makes washing
clothes difficult. Those who disagree to the use of water from the plant for
bathing claim that due to its salinity, it makes the body uncomfortable
especially on hot or humid days and may lead to skin rashes or body rash.
Therefore, can be ascertained that the water from the desalination plant has
eased water needs of the residents of Navaca in terms of supplying water for
other uses apart from drinking and cooking. However, there are a few side
effects of its use.

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1.4.2 Problems with the desalination plant
According to Ratu T. Masi, an interviewee “there are no problems that one
cannot think of when questioned about problems with the desalination
plant”. From the survey conducted, the following are some of the problems
that residents have complained about regarding the desalination plant and
the water that it provides. Attempts to question those who actually work at
the plant were futile as there are at least two security officers currently
working at the plant and one that I wished to interview has just begun
working there and said that he did not know much about the operation of
the machines and that I needed to talk to his co-worker who despite several
visits to the area, I never met and due to the time constraints, I documented
a report based on my findings from the questionnaire survey, personal
interview and field survey.
➢ Foremost, according to the residents, the delay in servicing is the root
cause of the technical faults that happen every now and then which
leads to a temporary shutdown of water supply for several days,
sometimes weeks and even months.

➢ Secondly, in the words of a former Minister for Infrastructure and

Transport, the plant is powered by three diesel generators which is an
expensive and costly affair. (Vula, 2015)

➢ Hon. Pio Tikoduadua: “The situation I have here is a desalination

plant which is unsustainable. I cannot keep it operational for long
because it’s just not going to work. We need to look at a permanent
alternate very quickly…” (Vula, 2015)

➢ Hon. Jone Usamate: “At the Desalination Plant, we have seen the
difficulties that WAF has in here and one of the major difficulties
seems to be the issue of dust which comes into the plant and
hopefully we can come up with a solution to prevent the dust coming
in so that the plant can be working continuously and Water Authority
of Fiji will have to make sure to make it work consistently.” (Water
Authority of Fiji, 2021)

➢ Not properly manned - Having qualified personnel’s as plant operators

who need to ensure that servicing and maintenance work is done on a
timely basis so as to avoid other operational issues

➢ Water is not the right mix or balanced, generally salty and at most
times having high chlorine content

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 2.5 Water management practices used by Navaca Residents
Residents of Navaca have been facing water problems for more than a
decade. Seventy-four-year-old, Usenia Lawavou one of the respondents
to the questionnaire survey alleged that she has been facing water
problems in Navaca ever since the day she settled there after marriage.
Many of the civil servants at the school compound who have stayed in
Navaca for more than seven years have also claimed that water has
always been an issue but that staying in the southern end of Taveuni
has taught many lessons on water management practices over the
years, some of which are provided in the graph below according to the
responses from the questionnaire survey.

Fig. 15 Analysis of Water Management Practices in

Navaca
70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
turn off taps cut long collect water bathing in washing using water bathing once Machine
when not in showers in storage the sea clothes twice wisely a day wash
use short containers a week

(Questionnaire Survey)

Over the years, residents of Navaca have mastered the art of saving water or
using water wisely, the first being turning off taps when not in use. This has
trickled down to even the younger generations where five-year-old children
have a habit of closing taps as they have been conditioned to such acts due
to the constant water shortages they have witnessed and experienced in their
short lives. Another method of conserving water is by taking short showers
instead of bathing or cutting long showers short. This is practiced in every
household whereby according to observation, many have adapted to using
only one bucket of water for bathing. Many of the respondents have also
unanimously agreed that having storage containers is the best way to save
water or store water for the long run especially when it rains. Other (20%)
respondents mentioned that their only choice is to bath in the sea and this
comes from the oldest respondent to my questionnaire survey, 74-year-old
Mrs. Lawavou who mentioned that after bathing in the sea, they use only one

23
small bowl or basin of freshwater at home to rinse of some salinity from their
body before changing into their dry clothes. A few of the respondents have
also mentioned that water can be used wisely by bathing only once a day,
washing clothes in the washing machines instead of running taps, reusing
rinsing water to flush the toilets or for scrubbing floors, etc. Finally, using
water reservedly is also one way to manage water use in the area so that
enough is available for the long run. Other water management practices
include:
➢ Turn off water when brushing teeth or shaving
➢ Recycle indoor water to use on plants
➢ Drink water from jugs, cups or bottles and not directly from the tap
➢ Don’t keep water running while washing clothes and utensils
➢ Close taps properly and fix leaking taps
➢ Harvest rainwater as much as possible
Hence, while the above water management practices are practical solutions
for the residents of Navaca, people still face water problems on a daily basis
especially when there are communal gatherings which are usually
unaccounted for like funerals, weddings, birthdays.

24
 2.6 A hope for the future of Water in Navaca
When conducting the survey, one of the main aims was to gather enough
information from the residents on what hopes they held regarding the future
of water supply in Navaca settlement.
The vast majority had hopes that:
➢ Government will supply clean, proper and safe drinking water
➢ Government will provide a sustainable (clean, safe) water supply for
the community
➢ To have constant piped water supply from WAF even if it’s from the
desalination plant
➢ To have water in their pipes every day
➢ To be provided enough tanks with larger storage capacity to collect
rainwater as Navaca receives a lot of rain annually.
According to an article on Fiji Sun Online, the desalination plant is a
temporary measure and that the area had received water supply from a bore
hole in Waimaqera once which the government and Water Authority of Fiji
are trying to get back to operate (Vula, 2015) and this has definitely taken
years, now almost a decade.
Hence, the future looks bleak for the residents of Navaca if nothing is done
soon to ensure that residents are provided a constant water supply system
or at least enough storage containers and new guttering for rainwater
harvest.

25
 2.7 Recommendations
Looking at the water woes in Navaca area, the following is recommended:
➢ people need to unite and form a committee that holds the sole
responsibility of monitoring water supply, storage, use and problems
in the area
➢ this committee shall also be responsible for looking for donors to
provide water storage containers for extended families and those that
are in need like the elderly or disadvantaged groups
➢ also, residents need to lodge a formal request unanimously to the
Mineral Resources Department to survey the area for a possible
aquifer where they can draw groundwater from.

26
 3.0 CONCLUSION

Water is a basic need that humans cannot live without. Although Fiji sits in
the Pacific Ocean, the largest body of water on earth, that makes it no
exception when it comes to water woes. Water is a key factor for the
development of any area. However, it is not distributed evenly around the
world and people use water differently depending on where they live. Water
problems have plagued our lives for years. Regardless of our geographical
location and however limited the resources we may have; all humans alike
will strive towards having access to constant water supply. All communities
in Fiji deserve a safe and constant water supply system. Navaca is no different,
and should not be disregarded because of its remote rural maritime location.
Decision makers and stakeholders who have for themselves seen the plight of
Navaca residents over the years need to include these residents in the
decision-making process in order to ensure that a sustainable water supply
system is achieved for this rural community that has suffered for many years.
Drawing from the survey conducted, in Navaca Settlement, water from the
desalination plant has eased water needs of the residents of Navaca in terms
of supplying water for other uses apart from drinking and cooking. However,
there are a few side effects of its use and still some problems encountered
along the way. While Navaca residents have utilized proper water
management practices which are practical solutions for the residents of
Navaca, people still face water problems on a daily basis especially when there
are communal gatherings, functions and ceremonies or even unannounced
and unexpected visits from extended family members. Thus, solving water
problems will help to minimize other social and health impacts of water cuts
or water problems in Navaca area.
Therefore, the future still looks bleak for the residents of Navaca if nothing is
done soon to ensure that residents are provided a constant water supply
system or at least enough storage containers and new guttering for rainwater
harvest. But, there is hope yet, however, solving water problems requires the
combined efforts of governing bodies and the people in order to ensure that
supply is sufficient, managed wisely and used sustainably.

27
 4.0 REFERENCES

1. Grant, P., & Haswell, A. (2000). How we use and abuse our planet:
Water. North Mankato: Thameside Press.

2. Hunter, P. R., Zmirou, N. D., & Hartemann, P. (2009). Estimating the

impact on health of poor reliability of drinking water interventions in
developing countries. Science Total Environment, 407.

3. Kohout, F. A. (1966). The Encyclopedia of Oceanography (Fairbridge,

R. W., ed.). New York: Reinhold.

4. Kumar, V. (2010). Water Management in Fiji. International Journal of

Water Resources Development, 81-98.

5. Merriam-Webster. (2023, September 3). River. Retrieved from

MerriamWebster.com Dictionary: https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/river

6. Moore, W. S. (2009). Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences (Second Edition).

Columbia: Academic Press.

7. Moosdorf, N., & Oehler, T. (2017). Societal use of fresh submarine

groundwater discharge: An overlooked water resource. Earth Science
Reviews, 338-348.

8. National Geographic Society. (2022, October 22). Groundwater.

Retrieved from National Geographic:
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/groundwater/

9. National Geographic Society. (2022, May 20). Surface Water. Retrieved

from National Geographic:
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/surface-water/

10. Rajaveni, S. P., Brindha, K., & Elango, L. (2015). Geological and
geomorphological controls on groundwater occurrence in a hard rock
region. Chennai: Applied Water Science.

11. Rural21. (2017). Water: Freshwater Springs in Oceans - A

Hidden Water Resource. The International Journal for Rural
Development, 338-348.

12. Shamim, Z. (2015, January 11). Taveuni Desalination Plant

Delayed. The Fiji Sun.

28
13. SOPAC. (2007). Intergrated Water resources Management
Programme Diagnostic Report. Suva: South Pacific Applied Geoscience
Commission.

14. Taniguchi, M., Burnett, W. C., Cable, J. E., & Turner, J. V.

(2003). Assessment methodologies for submarine groundwater
discharge. Land and Marine Hydrology, 1-23.

15. The Jet: Fiji's First Newspaper. (2015, August 28). Desalination
Plant set to Restart in September. Nadi: The Jet.

16. The World Bank Group. (2022). Water Resource Management

Overview. Retrieved August 15, 2023, from
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/waterresourcemanagement

17. United Nations Environment and Development. (2000). Second

World Water Forum - Perspective on Freshwater: Issues and
Recommendation on NGO's. Hague, Netherlands: Morley D.

18. Vula, M. (2015, April 18). Tikoduadua: Project is not Feasible.

Retrieved from Fiji Sun Online:
https://fijisun.com.fj/2015/04/18/tikoduadua-project-is-not-
feasible/

19. Wall, L. (2020, February 27). Dry River Bed. Retrieved from
Alamy Stock Photo: https://www.alamy.com/dry-river-bed-
image345388356.html?

20. Water Authority of Fiji. (2021, March 2). MEDIA RELEASE:

MINISTER USAMATE VISITS WAF TREATMENT PLANTS IN THE
NORTHERN DIVISION. Retrieved from WAF:
https://waterauthority.com.fj/media-release-minister-usamate-visits-
waf-treatment-plants-in-the-northern-division/

29
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

For the successful compilation of this research project, I would like to

acknowledge the following:
➢ foremost, I thank God for bestowing me enough knowledge,
strength and the competency to be able to go around places and
gather as much information regarding my research
➢ I am grateful for the support of family and friends which have
encouraged me every step along the way
➢ Sincere gratitude also goes to my lecturer for giving us ample
time to compile our report
➢ Finally, I appreciate the efforts of all the respondents and
interviewees for the endless questions they willingly answered in
order for me to document an appropriate report of the water
problems in Navaca Settlement.

30
 APPENDIX I

Questionnaire Survey
Research Topic: Managing Water Resource in Navaca
Settlement – South Taveuni
Name
Age
Occupation
Ethnicity
Religion

1. What is the approximate population of Navaca Settlement?

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

2. What type of family is common in Navaca Settlement?

Single Parent
Nuclear
Extended
Blended

3. Is the water supply within a month enough to cater for all

family members?
Yes
No

4. Do you face water problems in Navaca?

Yes
No

5. How often do you face water problems?

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

31
 6. For how long have you faced water problems in Navaca?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

7. Has it always been this way?

Yes
No
Explain:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

8. What are some of the natural water sources in this area?

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

9. Which water storage methods do you use?

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

10. Is water treated before use? If yes, then who and what is
used for water treatment?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

11. What in your opinion is the best option for water storage?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

32
12. In what ways have the government assisted the residents in
terms of meeting water needs?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

13. I understand, there is a desalination plant here that

supplies water to your area as well. When did the
desalination plant start operations?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

14. Has it been helpful in meeting your water needs?

Yes
No
15. What are some of the problems you face regarding water
from the desalination plant?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

16. Is water from the plant suitable for?

Uses of water Reasons

Tick or Cross
and give
reasons

Drinking

Cooking only

Washing clothes

Toilet use

Washing pots
and pans
Bathing

33
17. What is your hope for the future regarding water supply in
your area?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

18. Is there anyone elected to look after water management and

safety in your area? (like maybe a committee)

Yes
No

If ‘Yes’, has it been effective?

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

19. How do you manage water supply at your home to ensure

that enough is always available for the long run?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

20. How are the methods you have explained above working for
you, are they effective, how much water are you able to save
using the above practices[you can discuss how many more
days of water supply are you able to save using proper
management practices]?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Thank You for your Time!!!

34
 Appendix II

Personal Interview Questions

1. Who is responsible for taking care of the WTP?

2. What are some problems with the desalination plant?
3. How often do you have water supply cut off from the plant and
why?
4. In what ways do you thing water can be managed wisely?
5. What are your hopes regarding the future of water supply in
Navaca?
6. Are there any other means of getting water in Navaca apart from
the desalination plant and rain?
7. Have you explored any other means of getting water? Explain
8. What are the prices of the different water storage containers that
people in the area use?
9. How do you meet these prices?
10. Has there been any donation of tanks or other means of water
storage or filtering? Explain

35