Bilolo is a rural community in Ba with around 200 people situated along Kings Road near Ba town.
Representatives from the community approached Rotary Pacific Water for Life Foundation (RPW) with a request to examine their existing borehole and pump system. The pumps they had been installing were breaking down at an unusual rate of about one per annum. They had replaced five pumps already, and electricity bills were soaring.
To analyze the problem, RPW performed a pumping test and surveyed the topography between the borehole and the water reservoir.
RPW test data showed that the 1.1HP borehole pumps the community had been installing were the wrong type for their particular water system configuration. As a consequence, the pumps were operating far off their duty point and dangerously close to their run-out points. This explained the short life span of the pumps and the high electricity bills.
To remediate the problem, RPW designed and installed a new 0.75KW pump with a DOL starter and overload protection. This pump operated on its duty point at an efficiency of 63%. In fact, the new pump pumped at a higher rate but at a lower cost. The estimated monthly energy use for pumping 38,000 liters per day was around 340KWhr.
The community has already noticed a positive change in their monthly electricity bills. RPW estimates that the community saves around 30% on their electricity bill with the new pump installed.
This project was funded by RPW Gold Sponsor Fiji Water Foundation. It enhanced the water committee’s capacity in operating their system. The project was initiated as a training component for the Bilolo Water Committee as the members were involved while work was in progress and anticipated in learning the importance of pump protection.
VINAKA GOLD SPONSORS, FIJI WATER FOUNDATION!
Fulori collects ground water from an unprotected well outside her home. Villagers use the water collected for bathing and washing but it is not adequate for drinking. 
Our Projects Officer, Atalifo and Maciu the plumber building a shelter box for a new water pump. 
Completed housing for the new water pump. The pump will carry rainwater to a raised tank used to flush toilets at Vatulele District School. 
This cement storage tank supplies water to an elevated rota tank via this 20mm pvc connection. 
Newly installed rota tanks provide safe drinking water to the teachers quarters at Vatulele District School 
Children from Lomani and Bouwaqa village walk up to 2 hours every morning to reach Vatulele District School. Last year, the primary school experienced water shortages and students were returning home after lunch. Better management and upgrade to the rainwater storage system has lifted the sanitation and hygiene standard, and significantly improved school attendance. 
Doctor Tevita Navuda describes how a ball of hookworms were found in the intestines of a six year old boy who died last year. Acute diarrhoea disease is common on the island, due largely to water contamination. 
The deep resonating thump of wood beating against wood echoes around the village. Mere and Loraini are making tapa cloth; a tradition unique to Vatulele. 
Tara decorates the dried tapa cloth with stencil designs and dye obtained from mangroves, charcoal and seeds. Access to safer drinking water is vital for livelihoods and income generating activities. 
Water is fetched from an unprotected well using a bucket. Soko boils the water over a fire to kill off some of the bacteria, however there is no guarantee that it’s safe for drinking. 
Soko prepares cassava, she cuts off the skin and chops it into large pieces, which are rinsed before being boiled in salt and water 
Lunch break starts at 12pm, and the headmaster’s children come running home from school. Soko serves them noodle soup with bele and tin fish, which they eat with cassava. 
