Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban sewerage - Urban water supply

The objective of the project is to assist human and economic development in Fiji through the development of water supply and sewerage services in the Suva and Nausori urban areas.

A new water source will be developed, water treatment plants will be extended and rehabilitated, and pipelines and distribution systems will be developed; sewerage pumping stations and trunk services will be rehabilitated, and sewerage networks will be extended. The project will provide water and sewerage services of a standard that is suitable for commercialized operations, and will complement institutional developments that are being assisted by the Bank.

Increased coverage and improved delivery of water supply and sewerage services to the residents of

the Suva Nausori area.

1. Corporatized urban water and sewerage services

2. Community education and awareness program implemented and community liaison officer recruited

3. Waila and Tamavua water treatment plants upgraded

4. Kinoya sewage treatment plant upgraded

5. Water supply network rehabilitated and augmented, water supply loss programs implemented, and capacity for leak detection and repair improved

6. Sewerage system expanded to new and "backlog" areas, and existing network rehabilitated

1. WAF officially commenced operations on 1 January 2010 and its staff plan is now completed. This task is complete.

2. Community education and awareness program is an ongoing task.

3. The Government has reviewed the Alum Solids treatment requirements of this component and civil works has commenced from March 2013 to be financed under the supplementary loan.

4. Rehabilitation and Refurbishing of Kinoya Sewage Treatment Plant has been completed with the new sludge digestor and flares working well.

5. Recruitment of individual consultants (Senior Water Engineer, Senior Wastewater Engineer, Senior Environmental Engineer and/or Scientist and Water Loss Engineer) is completed and all four engineers are onboard.

6. i) For the Smabula and Suva Point backlog sewere component, the contracts were awarded in 2012 and work is nearing completion with commissioning now expected in October 2013.

An initial environmental examination for the Project has confirmed the classification as category B. The Projects overall environmental effects are positive. It will benefit the environment through (i) a substantial reduction of sewage entering the groundwater, streams, and the sea because of inadequate treatment in septic tanks; (ii) a substantial reduction of sewage pump station failures and consequent overflows, which often seriously affect low-lying communities near coastal waters; (iii) the provision of sludge treatment facilities at the two project water treatment plants; and (iv) better performance and effluent quality from the Kinoya sewage treatment plant. The rehabilitation and augmentation of that plant will enable access to carbon credits through the Clean Development Mechanism. These improvements will help to

reduce the pollution of streams, drains, and coastal waters in the project area. Environmental monitoring and management plans, incorporated into civil works contracts, are being implemented effectively and are monitored by the WSD's environment officer.

Very Limited impact - Short land acquisition and resettlement plans were prepared and updated during the detailed design

phase. The resettlement plans were disclosed to affected people and posted on the ADB website.

Community leaders were consulted, consumer surveys were carried out, and beneficiary participation developed for project implementation. Public consultations during the feasibility study focused on the issues of land availability and social impact assessment of the various project components. In particular, the feasibility study team met with village leaders and a group of women fisherfolk in the Rewa River area.

Such consultation with the affected communities will be an ongoing process during project implementation.

International consultants are required as follows:

(i) Project management unit reforms (institutional development, financial management, management information system, operations management and training.

(ii) Water loss reduction

(iii) Inflow/infiltration study of wastewater collection system

(iv) Environmental monitoring

(v) Mapping and geographical information systems.

Also, subproject design and construction supervision services will be procured and funded by the Government.