THE WATER Authority of Fiji (WAF) is on the process of upgrading the Suva City sewerage system which is expected to cost $5million.
The existing sewerage system in the city was constructed in 1940 and since then, population growth and the addition of new infrastructures in the city area has led to the ageing of water and sewerage assets which have resulted in overflows from manholes and pumping stations.
A statement from the authority said the old sewers had cracks, allowing discharge of untreated sewerage in the city and filtration of sea water into sewers creating environmental and health problems.
WAF acting engineer Sewerage, Filipe Batiwale said their teams were in the process of identifying leaking sewer lines in the city through the use of CCTV.
"A funding of $5million has been directed by WAF for the purpose of repairing and improving sewer systems in the city," Mr Batiwale said.
This project will be funded through WAF's soft loan funding.
"Work will begin later this year," he added.
"Our flushing and CCTV crews are currently undertaking an investigation program whereby they are trying to identify the defects of the city gravity sewer systems."
He said their team had completed 60 per cent of work and the progress was slow because inspection works would only be carried out in the night and during low tide.
He said upgrading works would begin this year.
Work will begin at Greig St, an area that needs a lot of attention in terms of repair and replacement work.