The Samoa Water Authority (S.W.A.) has advised that the recent heavy rain has led to water disruptions which are affecting a number of villages.

The Government-owned water authority says that recent water disruptions are due to the rise in heavy rainfall events, which is resulting in the increase in water flow in waterways and leading to the flooding of the rivers. 

"The heavy rainfall caused the rivers to become dirty and had led to the lack of water supply to our filter areas," a public notice issued by S.W.A. reads. "We advise our customers to collect rainwater and store it properly while we go through this severe weather period."

Villages in Upolu are not the only ones affected as Faletagaloa, Fagaee, and Sasina in Savai'i also experienced water disruptions last week due to underground water pipes being affected. 

Some villages in the Vaimauga No. 3 constituency also took to social media to express concerns about their water supply being cut off early Saturday morning without any advance notice from the authorities. 

A Magiagi resident, Toloa Siomia told Samoa Observer that he missed work that day because they stayed up late the night before for a family faalavelave – and they needed to shower in the morning for work – but the water supply was switched off.

"We were all dirty even my other relatives because we were busy preparing for a funeral and just when we were about to shower and get ready for work around 7 am in the morning, the water was off," Mr. Siomia said. 

"Usually there would be a notice but we haven't heard of any notice and because we had a funeral and we were expecting guests almost every time, we needed the water constantly."

Samoa Observer understands that other residents including those from other villages shared similar sentiments on social media, having had similar experiences after their water supply at home was cut by the S.W.A. due to the water supply being contaminated.