Barry Omundson is CEO of the Water Authority of Fiji, supplying water and sanitation services to more than 800,000 people. He lives in the capital Suva, where the national office is located.

Bula Vinaka, readers.

Over 300 islands make up the wonderful Fijian Islands and we have staff and infrastructure on more than 100 of them.

For various reasons, we have some old assets like water trunk mains that frequently burst or leak. In the Suva-Nausori corridor, there are close to 450,000 people and the existing water supply to this growing region is keenly balanced between supply and demand. That is why we have commenced a $US650 million project to build another treatment plant, intake, pipes etc. and improve our wastewater capacity.

On any normal day, we could have a burst or leak large enough to drop reservoir levels, leaving many people without piped water. We use a lot of water carting trucks to assist at these times.

In other regions, a similar situation exists. Add COVID-19 and the challenge increases; there is pressure to deliver water so people can wash their hands. Small breaks and small numbers of people without water means a large social media story about their inability to combat the virus.

Our staff are resilient, caring and take their roles as essential service providers very seriously. Not a lot has changed on the ground, though we are mindful of operational safety. Teams still go out at any time of day for repairs; teams still dive into water intakes to clear blockages; and teams still manage that dazzling Fijian smile whatever the situation!

Barry Omundson
Chief Executive Officer
Water Authority of Fiji