PROVIDING clean water for villagers has become a priority for village headmen on Taveuni who joined international and local volunteers in constructing new water piping systems.
About 21 villagers, including the headmen from 11 different settlements and villages, participated in the program.
The team joined members of the Rotary Pacific Water For Life, Rotary Clubs of Taveuni and Redondo Beach in California and an American businessman, Norm Hantzche, the owner of Questa Engineering.
Project manager Jeffrey Weigel, a Taveuni expatriate resident, said the program was aimed at increasing knowledge on management of water resources.
"This program will benefit the community and will have long-term effects in increasing health benefits. A lot of people and organisations have volunteered and put a lot of efforts in that project for Taveuni.
"Mr Hantzche, a professional water and sanitation engineer and owner of California-based water resources consulting company, Questa Engineering, has given a lot of time and expertise in drawing the different projects and building the training material.
"What really touched my heart over the last few weeks is the level of commitment and hard work that the different communities of Taveuni have invested in their projects."
American businessman Mr Hantzche said the program was a success with villagers learning how to build water systems, toilet blocks, biosand filters and sewerage systems.
"We also received a lot of help from health inspectors in Taveuni and the villagers were committed to learning more about building water systems that provide safe source for drinking."
Vurevure Village headman Tomasi Dewala said weeks of hard work had produced great benefits for the villagers.
"We would like to thank the Rotary Club for these great blessings. We would like to thank our friends from America who found the money to make this big project in our village. Thank you to all for their teachings, materials and help."