Ensuring water security for Fiji’s growing population

Project highlights

• Supplying DN900 Mild Steel Cement Lined (MSCL) pipes and fittings: These high-performance components ensure the pipeline’s durability and capability to withstand the demands of a gravity-fed system.
• Meeting stringent standards: All materials supplied by Clover adhered to the project’s strict performance, safety and environmental requirements.
• Enhancing water distribution capacity: Our supplied pipeline solutions helped introduce an additional 40 million litres of water per day into the Suva-Nausori system, ensuring a more reliable water supply for over 360,000 residents.

A first in largescale water infrastructure for Fiji

The Rewa River Water Supply Scheme was a first for Fiji in largescale water infrastructure development and brought together expertise and resources from Clover Pipelines, the Water Authority of Fiji, and international organisations such as the Green Climate Fund to bring water security to over 360,000 residents.

A complex infrastructure project involving a number of interconnected builds, the Scheme incorporated a range of innovative measures to adapt to the challenges of a fast-growing urbanised population, such as positioning the intake 49 kilometres upstream to mitigate the risk of saltwater intrusion. But with innovations like these came challenges to efficiently transport water in a gravity-fed system. By working closely with key project and government stakeholders, Clover was able help secure a reliable and durable water supply system for the region, contributing to the long-term sustainability of the region.

Water Authority Fiji CEO, Dr Amit Chanan, noted prior to construction that the Scheme aimed to provide for future needs in a rapidly urbanising area.

“This project will also relieve pressure on other parts of our infrastructure that are being stressed by the current demands, and as a proactive measure, there are provisions in place by which this can be expanded to a further 80 MLD, in case of even greater demand in the future.”

As part of the pipeline solution for the Scheme, air valves, scour chambers and hydrant facilities were incorporated to support easy maintenance and operation, while Clover supplied pipelines and fittings for five exposed pipe bridges along the route to solve for challenging terrain and environmental conditions.

Solving for complex environmental and project needs

Technical expertise and support as well the sourcing and supply of advanced pipeline solutions were pivotal to the success of the Rewa River Water Supply Scheme. Clover supplied 26.4km of DN900 Mild Steel Cement Lined (MSCL) pipes and fittings, specifically chosen for their ability to withstand the rigorous demands of a gravity-fed water system.

With a team continuing to build its presence and expertise in Fiji, Clover was able to collaborate closely with stakeholders to ensure that each component of the pipeline – including 17.8km of Gravity Mains and 8.6km of Pressure Mains – was engineered to integrate seamlessly with the broader infrastructure.

DN900 MSCL pipes were recommended due to their exceptional strength, durability and suitability for large-scale infrastructure projects. These pipes are renowned for their high tensile strength, enabling them to withstand the significant pressures of a gravity-fed water system while ensuring long-term reliability with minimal maintenance.

The cement lining of the pipes provide critical protection against internal corrosion –preserving the integrity of the pipeline – while the smooth interior of the lining enhances hydraulic efficiency, optimising the system’s capacity to deliver 40 million litres of water per day to the Suva-Nausori corridor.

Given the challenging environmental conditions and varied terrain of Fiji, the robust construction of the DN900 MSCL pipes was well-suited to the demands of the project. Their 900mm diameter helps to accommodate the significant volumes of water, meeting the needs of over 360,000 residents and ensuring the system can support future population growth.