Water supply has resumed in parts of Fuvahmulah City, but many residents remain unable to use it due to unresolved safety concerns and sealed meters, following a major disruption earlier this week.
The Fuvahmulah City Council has raised alarm over Fenaka Corporation’s decision to release water before the results of the latest safety tests are available. The water service was cut off on Monday due to contamination and leakage issues in the city’s water grid, which serves a population of over 11,000.
Presidential Spokesperson Heena Waleed said on Tuesday that the entire pipeline had been disinfected in line with standards set by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) and the Health Protection Agency (HPA). A new water sample was sent to MFDA for testing on Wednesday, with results expected early Friday morning.
Councilor Ibrahim Mohamed told Sun that the council had requested Fenaka not to resume supply until the test results were confirmed. He also noted that while the Fenaka head office receives the results, the Fuvahmulah branch does not, complicating local decision-making.
Despite this, Fenaka began reopening valves at 11:30 on Thursday, though not all households have been reconnected. Fenaka MD Mohamed Najaah told state media that water was distributed across the island on a staggered schedule, and full supply will resume once MFDA confirms the network’s safety.
Fuvahmulah city residents protest in the streets on November 12 over the unresolved water crisis: Fenaka cut off water supply on November 10 due to contamination of water supply. (X Photo/Issis)
However, residents say that many meters remain sealed, preventing usage even where supply has resumed. Some households were asked to flush out contaminated water, only to find their meters later locked with cables.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has delivered emergency water supplies by air, including 500 cases of five-liter bottles, 1,300 cases of 1.5-liter bottles, and 1,000 cases of 500-milliliter bottles.
The government initially said the issue would be resolved within hours, but delays have sparked frustration. On Wednesday, residents staged protests outside the water plant, demanding answers and immediate restoration of safe water access.
Councilor Ibrahim also highlighted the need for additional infrastructure, noting that the city currently operates two 500-tonne water plants but requires two more 1,500-tonne facilities to meet growing demand from guesthouses and residents.