New Borehole Brings Clean Water Relief to Natewa Village

Villagers in Natewa, Cakaudrove, will no longer need to walk long distances to collect water following the commissioning of a $137,000 borehole project.

The new water system will serve 60 households, as well as the community post office, Natewa District School and the health centre, benefiting more than 244 people.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who commissioned the project, said water plays a critical and irreplaceable role in daily life but stressed that groundwater is a vulnerable resource that must be managed sustainably and prioritised for drinking purposes.

He urged the community to take ownership of the borehole and manage it wisely, encouraging the use of other available water sources such as rainwater harvesting to supplement groundwater supply.

The Prime Minister reminded villagers that access to safe and reliable water remains a Government priority and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which calls for sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

He said groundwater resources are increasingly threatened by climate change, contamination and overuse, and emphasised that responsibility for monitoring, maintaining and protecting the borehole and related infrastructure rests with the community and the Natewa Water Committee.

Prime Minister Rabuka acknowledged the Mineral Resources Department, thanking field officers, supervisors and management for their dedication in completing the project within the set timeframe.

Director of Mineral Resources Dr Apete Soro said the project was first identified in 2017, with scoping carried out in 2018 and underground inspections and surveys conducted in 2020.

The borehole reaches a depth of 21 metres, with the water table located at five metres. It is capable of pumping approximately one litre every five seconds and will operate using solar power.

For the villagers, the project marks the end of decades of hardship.

Village headman Taniela Taukei said families had long struggled with unreliable access to safe drinking water, often travelling long distances and collecting muddy water during heavy rainfall.

He described the commissioning of the borehole as a turning point for the community, bringing security, dignity and improved health prospects for families in Natewa.