Fuvahmulah council to file case against Fenaka over water supply
Residents have continued to share images on social media showing unclean water.
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The Fuvahmulah City Council has decided to file a case against Fenaka Corporation after the company resumed water supply despite repeated complaints of contaminated water and a request from the council not to restart distribution until water quality was confirmed.
Water supply to households in Fuvahmulah, home to nearly 10,000 residents, was restored on Thursday after being suspended on Monday afternoon. The suspension followed reports of cloudy water being delivered to several households.
The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) stated that the water supplied in Fuvahmulah met World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. However, residents have continued to share images on social media showing unclean water.
The council said it would file a case in court seeking orders to ensure that water supplied by Fenaka is safe for use and that the company complies with standards set by the Utility Regulatory Authority and other relevant authorities. The council also plans to take the matter to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRC), stating that residents are being deprived of access to adequate safe water.
An announcement issued by the council on Monday urged residents to rectify prohibited cross-connections in household water systems. The Utility Regulatory Authority had informed the council that a survey conducted by Fenaka found multiple households operating two water tanks, a practice prohibited under the Water and Sewerage Act.
“Any household in Fuvahmulah City with a cross-connection is requested to correct it as soon as possible in accordance with Fenaka regulations,” the council said.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the council said it had requested water analysis earlier this month after an increase in complaints of contamination and service interruptions since mid-last month. The analysis report, based on water samples, identified several issues that were communicated to Fenaka. These included:
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Repairing the faulty water plant
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Resolving issues with boreholes
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Restoring the third storage tank to full operation
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Conducting leak assessments to identify and address system leaks
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Identifying households with cross-connections and preventing the practice
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Testing water supplied to households in accordance with Utility Regulatory Authority standards
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Preparing an upgrade plan and work schedule to meet growing demand
After the tests showed higher-than-permitted levels of organic matter in the supply, the council requested a temporary suspension of water distribution to the entire city until safety could be verified.
The council said it informed the Health Protection Agency (HPA), MFDA, and the Health Ministry after Fenaka resumed water supply on Thursday. Although the MFDA announced the next day that the water was safe, the council said it had not yet received the test results. Complaints from residents regarding water safety have continued since then.
The council has urged the Utility Regulatory Authority to halt the supply of drinking water to Fuvahmulah until the authority formally approves the proposals submitted by the council. It has also advised residents to exercise caution in using water supplied by Fenaka until full safety is confirmed.
