Ongoing water supply shortages are a nightmare for firefighters like the Puaikura Fire Brigade.

In its 22 years of service in the community, the brigade has constantly faced a ‘concerning’ challenge with water shortages, which have worsened recently.

In an interview with Cook Islands News this week, Deputy Fire Chief John Jessie stressed that the biggest challenge they're facing at the moment is water required for fighting fires, adding that it’s a big concern.

Last week, To Tatou Vai (TTV) issued a notice informing its customers about the low water pressure due to low rainfall, which was mostly affecting high ground residents.

However, the water crisis continues to challenge residents and businesses with the constant shortages prompting the introduction current water tariffs and charging every household on the island.

Attempts to get a comment from TTV in response to the Fire Brigade’s call for water improvement were unsuccessful as of press time yesterday.

Meanwhile, Jessie urged the water authority to improve its operations.

“Although the upgrade is all done and completed, we're not getting that 100% water capacity to fulfil our obligations when any house is on fire,” he said.

“So it's something that TTV needs to improve to be able to get that water supply. When we need it, and that's the challenge.”

Asked whether the water crisis is a new problem for the brigade, Jessie said ‘it’s always been the issue’.

“Right from the day the brigade started , I would say it’s been a challenge. We weren't getting enough water and that's why we rely on other trucks to turn up to give us enough water supply.”

The Puaikura fire brigade on Friday last week officially opened the extension of its fire station funded by the Government of Japan, which is marked as a milestone for the voluntary work do. Jessie says they are now well equipped although there is always an updated version of equipment that they would like to have.