CLOSE to 99 per cent of rural water tested in the country has some form of fecal coliform.
The finding was revealed during the launch of the Rural Water and Sanitation policy in Suva on Thursday.
Works Ministry deputy secretary Manasa Lesuma said the finding was part of research conducted in 2009 and 2010.
"Ovalau was the only island that didn't have any fecal coliform in its water system," he said.
Mr Lesuma said a long-term solution to the problem was removing the risks to coliform rather than just focusing on the problem itself.
The Water Authority of Fiji said they were introducing basic chlorination in rural water supply schemes this year.