THE Water Authority of Fiji is working with the Fiji National University to draw out programs that will entice more students to study civil and water engineering.
WAF's newly appointed chief executive officer Opetaia Ravai said there was a chronic shortage of qualified civil and water engineers in the country.
"We need people with degree qualifications in civil and especially water engineering.
"We're designing courses for those with interest.
"There are very few locals with this qualification — you can count them with one hand.
"FNU is working with specialists in India to design the courses.
"The best engineers in this field are from India," Mr Ravai said.
Meanwhile, the authority is carrying out a two-pronged approach to ensure that all households across the country have 24-hour supply of tap water.
While the authority seeks out new water sources to cater for tourism and economic development in Nadi, and an additional water source for the growing population in the Suva-Nausori corridor, it is also working to address varying water pressure to current customers in a bid to address and arrest leaks which consume 60 per cent of unaccounted water supplied by WAF.