Praying for the rain

By Sarafina Sanerivi 07 December 2016, 12:00AM

Waiting around all year for the rain so that your family could get some water may be an impractical way to live, especially in Samoa where there is a lot more sun than rain.

That’s the way many families - with a few exceptions - live in the village of Leusoalii.

According to Lumaava Ta’uai, the only time there is water pressure is when it rains. But during sunny days, families have to go around looking for anyone with access to a water source so they could fill up their buckets, pots and water containers.

Lumaava describes it as a tough way to live.

“My village really suffers when it comes to water,” she told the Village Voice.

“In all honesty, we have to wait till it’s raining before we can have running water here. The rest of the year when there is no rain then there is a shortage of water.”

“Just like the past few weeks where there was only sun and no rain. If there is a family who has access to a water source then everyone goes there with their buckets and other water storage containers to collect water.”

She buried all pride as she admitted that her village needs help.

“We really need help to fix our water pipes so that we could have reliable water,” Lumaava said.

“I also humbly request for any assistance for my village. If it’s just one or two water tanks for us to share then we will be forever grateful for your help.”

“Water problems have plagued my village for a while now. With Samoa being sunny throughout the year without any rain, we have to deal with scurrying around looking for water.”

Even when water becomes available when it rains, it is not sanitary and causes some villagers to fall ill after drinking.

“Water is very important and not having any water for our daily needs is very tough,” Lumaava said.

“Having no water, let alone having clean water to drink, means that we can’t do a lot of our daily chores. Even the task of fetching water isn’t easy.

“The rare moments when we do have water, it’s not clean and it makes the children sick. That adds a lot more stress on the parents.”

Asked how long this issue has plagued the village of Leusoalii, Lumaava said it has been this way for as long as she can remember.

“I can’t remember how many years this has been the case here in Leusoalii,” she said.

“It’s been like this for as long as I can remember and waiting around for the rain is a ridiculous way to live; especially in Samoa where there’s more sun than rain.”

“I’m not sure if the village has sent a request to the government for some assistance to start using the government water and not the village pipes.”

“The only thing I heard was that an expert came to have a look and just said for us not to touch the water. That’s the last we heard from him.”

By Sarafina Sanerivi 07 December 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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