A GROUP of residents in Nagigi outside Labasa Town have requested for more water tanks to be installed in the area to assist them with their water supply.
The residents claimed that over the past three weeks they had to use other sources of water because of the intermittent supply.
Speaking on their behalf, district advisory councillor Parmesh Chandra said the water catchment was not supplying clean water.
Mr Chandra said residents had resorted to well and rain water for survival.
"Sometimes, students fill their water bottles from school and they bring it home for their families," Mr Chandra said.
"There are about 70 people drinking from this catchment and the water is sometimes dirty.
"This problem is becoming a topic of discussion in our community because we fear it might affect us health-wise."
He said it would be a relief if the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) stepped in to assist them with their water supply.
WAF spokeswoman Kelera Serelini said they would carry out a survey and meet with residents to discuss the issues.
She said the dry spell which affected the country over the past couple of months was one of the contributing factors to water problems in some areas around the country.