Red Letter Day For

Viwa, But They've

A Problem Still

For the 400 inhabitants of the tiny island of Viwa, in the remote northwest of the Fiji group, Nov ember 1 was a red-letter day. Once and for all, they hope, a perpetual supply of drinking water is at last available to them all.

On that day the Fiji Government landed on the coral sand and rubble island, 50 miles from the western district capital of Lautoka and 15 miles from its nearest island neigh bour, a 50-foot long solar still for their use. Installed and brought into use within a matter of days, fed by sea-water, the still is now churning out a steady 30 gallons per day.

The island’s history has been one of continual worry over the problem of where to get enough water for the bare essentials. The island has only two or three wells that produce a brackish brew.

The highest point on the island stands only about six feet above sea level, and islanders rely on what catchment they can get from roof tops into tanks that have a total capacity of only a little over 8,000 gallons.

Routine

Annual rainfall is only a little over 60 inches and months without any rain at all are the rule rather than the exception. Thus daily rationing is merely routine. Islanders scoop holes in the bases of coconut palms to catch rain trickling down the boles, and they have dug others in stones to provide added storage when the rains do come.

The 30 gallon-a-day still, though a guarantee of drinking water, will not solve the water shortage.

More tank capacity is required, if only the islanders can pay for the materials. They have been short of cash since 12 months ago, when a moderate tropical storm gave the island’s sole industry, copra, a knock out blow, and nothing has been ship ped from the island since.

More stills could be an answer, but the model just delivered was built by the government for experi mental purposes and no funds are available from that source for ad ditions.