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Water cartage on the rise as residents battle low pressure

Friday 29 November 2024 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Local, National

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Water cartage on the rise as residents battle low pressure
Rarotonga’s water authority, To Tatou Vai (TTV), has once again warned members of the public that the water pressure will be low as a result of the low-rainfall.

The much-needed rain yesterday is expected to bring some relief to Rarotonga residents residing on higher grounds who continue to battle low or no water pressure.

The dry spell leading up to Thursday’s downpour forced Cook Islands General Transport (CIGT) to step up water cartage operations, with over 20 deliveries made in just three days this week.

The surge comes at the back of households battling with low or no water pressure, particularly in inland areas and higher grounds.

In response to questions from Cook Islands News, CIGT director Madeilene Sword says it is their aim to provide a prompt and efficient service within their capabilities whether it be water delivery or general cartage.

“On average, we receive 10 requests for water cartage per day during ‘low water’ periods and depending on when (at what time of the morning/afternoon calls come in) customers engage us, and their location for delivery, provisioning is same day or by the next day,” Sword said.

“Numbers vary – like last week, we carted for five customers, but this week we’ve delivered to over 20 customers in three days.”

Sword advises residents to monitor water levels overnight and contact CIGT early in the morning for timely delivery.

The dry weather has severely impacted water production, with Rarotonga water authority To Tatou Vai (TTV) issuing a public notice this week urging residents to conserve water.

TTV reported significant drops in water supply to areas such as Parengaru to Tikioki, Ruaau, and Matavera to Tupapa. Hotspots inland of the backroad have been hit hardest, with some households experiencing no water at all.

An affected resident, who preferred not to be named, shared the daily challenges of living without sufficient water.

“It’s been such a hassle having to fetch water in buckets from a friend’s house every morning and afternoon for our food, drinks, and to shower. My whole family has to line up early morning to shower and again after work,” they said.

The resident expressed concern about future shortages, attributing recent fires on the island as a contributing factor.

“There’s been fire incidents around the island which wasted huge amounts of water. My advice to the people is simply to use water wisely because I know my family is not the only one struggling with this water problem,” they said.

To Tatou Vai chief executive Tereapii Timoti supported calls for water conservation but downplayed the impact of fire incidents on the current situation.

“Surely you have seen our messages; we are not attributing the low water to fire incidences, albeit those do not help,” Timoti told Cook Islands News.

TTV’s public notice emphasised water conservation measures, including refraining from non-essential water use such as washing vehicles and refilling swimming pools.

The water authority is rerouting water to problematic areas, but this has led to reduced pressure for coastal residents who were previously unaffected.

The current low-pressure situation echoes challenges faced earlier this year. In August, Rarotonga experienced an island-wide water crisis lasting nearly a month, with several intakes running below 50 per cent capacity.

Although rain in September provided temporary relief, the situation had worsened again last month and now this month due to the dry spell.

Rarotonga’s water supply relies heavily on surface water from springs and streams, making it vulnerable to prolonged dry periods.