The Samoa Water Authority has restored all water supplies to 21,800 of its customers. 

This was confirmed by S.W.A. Corporate Manager, Kolone Tikeri, in response to questions from the Samoa Observer. 

“The Managing Director and S.W.A. staff worked tirelessly to ensure the restoration of reliable water supply to all its customers,” he said. 

 “Since the departure of Tropical Cyclone Gita from Samoa, the Samoa Water Authority engaged a 24-hour operation to restore water supply. 

 “As of Thursday, 15th February, 2018 all infrastructures and facilities were checked and damages restored. 

 “During then all major schemes in Upolu and Savaii were all online except for a few borehole schemes awaiting electricity supply,” said Tikeri. 

According to Tikeri, last week S.W.A. had five trucks delivering water to families in rural areas of Upolu 24 hours a day.  

 “Areas covered with the trucks included Manono Uta, Apolima Uta, Samatau, Suifaga Falelatai, Satuimalufilufi, Lalomanu, Tiavea Uta, Tiavea Tai, Amaile and Lepa, but all of these areas are receiving water now.” 

He said the cyclone caused damages to distribution and transmission pipelines, water intakes and treatment plants. 

“One of the major issues encountered by the Authority during periods of heavy rainfall is turbidity from the rivers. 

“This problem was again a major issue for some of the treatment plants forcing the Authority to shut down or reduce supply from some of the treatment facilities. 

“The Authority’s slow sand filtering tanks at Fuluasou, Alaoa and Malololelei and Faleata-Palauli in Savaii were all been cleaned by hand over the course of the week, recovering full capacity from these treatment plants. 

 “The tanks are very large and office staff joined operations staff to shovel sludge caused by Gita out of the tanks so they can effectively filter the water for drinking.” 

He told the Samoa Observer that customers who still experience difficulties in water supply or know of damaged and leaking pipes yet to be repaired can still call S.W.A. any time on 21267 or 20409 for Upolu and 51215 for Savai’i.