Fiji Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in fiji, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Water and Wastewater Treatment
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Overview

Fiji’s water supply services are facing considerable pressure due to aging infrastructure. The government is working to replace a 50-year-old piping system, with the project estimated to cost $223.8 million (FJ$500 million). Leaks in the outdated system currently cause the loss of 47% of treated water. Although temporary measures have minimized water disruptions, a comprehensive long-term plan to upgrade and replace the infrastructure is in progress.

Around 82% of Fiji’s population has access to safe drinking water, including 58% of those in rural areas and 98% in urban areas. However, the central sewerage system serves only 28% of the population. The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) is set to undergo a significant institutional overhaul, which will include a review of water tariffs. Fiji currently has the lowest residential water rates in the Pacific, at $0.07 (FJ$0.15) per 1,000 megaliters. Additionally, a free water allowance scheme provides up to 92,500 liters annually at no cost to households earning less than $13,500 (FJ$30,000) per year. These subsidized rates result in WAF being unable to cover its operational costs fully and relying on substantial government funding for both operational and capital expenditures. Most contractors working with WAF are specialists from Australian and New Zealand-based firms.

Leading Sub-Sectors

  • Water engineering 
  • Water and wastewater plant construction 
  • Equipment supply
  • Smart water technologies such as leak detection solutions and water analytics.  

Opportunities

In 2025, the Fijian Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) partnered on the $175 million (FJ$385 million) “Healthy Oceans and Water Supply Improvement Project,” designed to overhaul the nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure. The initiative focuses on doubling the capacity of the Kinoya Wastewater Treatment Plant and minimizing non-revenue water losses within the Greater Suva Area. To ensure long-term sustainability, the project includes the establishment of a regional training program for operators, supported by a $10.5 million (FJ$23 million) ADB grant dedicated to capacity building.

Resources

To receive tender notices, subscribe to the WAF e-procurement portal. The Water Authority of Fiji is a member of the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association, an association of public water utility organizations in the Pacific Islands. WAF is a statutory body under the Ministry of Public Works, Transport, and Meteorological Services.

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