Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Wai, Tiko Savasava kei na Savasava
Projects in more than 10 communities – including schools, hospitals and villages
Why WASH?
Na cava na vuna ni WASH?
Water and sanitation are fundamental to human dignity. Many communities all across Fiji lack good water and sanitation, particularly those in informal settlements, small islands and other remote communities. The Catholic social teaching lead us to help the most vulnerable. That starts with water, sanitation and hygiene.
More than half of Fijians do not have access to safe drinking water
While almost all Fijians have access to drinking water from natural sources like streams and wells – most do not have access to water at their premises, or that is free of contamination from contamination by pollution and waste.
In rural areas, only 27% have access to safe drinking water
Rural communities are much more likely to rely on shared water systems from open sources such as streams and dams without treatment and monitoring. There is also less developed waste management infrastructure – often relying on latrines leading to cross-contamination risk.
Water issues regularly affect schools and hospitals in Fiji
The operation of schools and hospitals in Fiji is regularly affected by either low water pressure or contamination of water sources with cholera and typhoid leading to unacceptable risk for children and patients.
NGOs provide rural WASH. Government support is limited
Government supply of water is limited to urban areas. Rural and remote communities are expected to develop and maintain their own independent water and sanitation systems. Organizations like Caritas Fiji are the only support provided to rural and remote communities.
Image from the men of Nasalia village in Kadavu moving a water tank to the nearby village of Burelevu. Data from UNCEF Datawarehouse – largely from 2024: available here.
How we do WASH?
Vakacava neitou cakava na WASH?
Caritas Fiji has been developing its model of WASH for over a decade. We have team members who have been doing WASH projects for more than 30 years. We work with communities to deliver practical, easy to maintain on the ground solutions that provide consistent water supply over the long term.
We deliver WASH to those who need it most
Our catholic social teaching leads us to work for those communities most in need – in remote communities, small islands, settlements and highlands.
We deliver projects to all communities, anyone who approaches us and seeks our assistance and have gone through our assessment and verification process. We are regularly approached by government as a leading provider of WASH in small communities.
Water sources are available – but systems need to be tough
Most communities in Fiji have nearby water sources and basic WASH systems already.
What they need is an upgraded and fit for purpose systems that can survive cyclones, flooding and the dry season and be maintained by the community over the long term. There are many examples of well-intentioned, new, complex WASH systems not surviving the climate in Fiji.
We build robust, low-tech, on-site water systems
Our team transports materials to the site, often the final stage on foot as the sites are remote and inaccessible by car of lorry.
The systems we build are simple – generally they have no electricity or pumps, instead they are “gravity fed”, pressure is built by a series of tanks along the line between the water source and final tank.
We do not use specialized equipment, generally not even power tools. Everything we use is available in the local community, to ensure our systems can be maintained by communities over the long term.
We work with communities – which ensures long term impact
Our team engages with communities at the beginning of the project, often forming a local water committee, to understand their existing systems and design a solution together.
Once we acquire the materials, we seek permission from the local community with traditional welcoming ceremonies.
Afterwards we are generally supported by a group of people from the community – sometimes more than 30 volunteers for several months to build the system. Our team generally lives on site with the volunteers while the construction is completed.
Then once the system is built, we provide the community with resources and maintain an ongoing relationship with the water committee – following up to ensure quality water supply over the long term.
Our latest work
Na noda cakacaka vou
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A new water system in the highlands of Ra
The team has built a gravity water system delivering clean and fresh water to more than 400 people in Soa village, in the west of the main island of Fiji.
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Amplifying Pacific Voices: Caritas Fiji Champions Climate Justice on the Road to COP31
Caritas Fiji joins regional civil society leaders to shape climate action, secure sustainable futures, and demand a just transition for frontline communities.
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Rooted in the Land: How Lakeba Island is Turning the Tide Against Rural-Urban Drift
Caritas Fiji partners with local faith leaders to empower eight villages in Lakeba with sustainable solutions, ecological stewardship, and renewed community hope.
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Healing Through Listening: Our Contribution Along the Path to Truth and Reconciliation
The Caritas Fiji team has supported the remarkable spiritual and pastoral groundwork to prepare communities for Fiji’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
