Life without water is tough

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 14 October 2018, 12:00AM

A life without water is tough for 67-year-old Lesina Togia of Lotofaga, Aleipata.

When the Village Voice team met her yesterday, she said: “What is life without water?”

The mother of 14 and grandmother of over 20 grandchildren says her family has had to endure, and live with the struggle of an inconsistent water supply for two years now.

She lives with eight of her children as well as their spouses and their children, and no one is employed.

“We had access to water before. However, it’s been two years since we have been like this. What happened was the main pipe that we usually get our water supplies from had been damaged, and that was two years ago.” 

“One of my sons-in-law was in the village committee that deals with water, and he has been doing what he can, but still we don’t have access to water. So now every family has to find their own way to get their supply of water,” she said. 

Ms. Togia said most of the families in the village have water tanks, except for them.

“We have been requesting for a water tank but up until now we still haven’t received a water tank.”

“Our mayor came around and noted down our family and the number of people living here and that was it. Life has been a struggle for two years for our family, especially our children.”

Ms. Togia added they have to fetch water from their neighbouring village Matātufu.

“We have to find a vehicle so we can use to take us to fetch water but we have to pay for it. We pay the driver $50, but it only takes us two days to use up all the water that and then we have to call the driver again, so in just a week we have to call the vehicle three times and that’s $150.”

“I only have one son in Australia who helps out, and also my pension as well. So whatever money I get whether it’s from my son or my pension, I always save it for the vehicle payment so we can get water from Matātufu,” said the elderly lady.

Ms. Togia said they are always happy because they get water and at the same time save money for their other needs. 

“It’s very hard living life like this,” she said.

“It breaks my heart when I see my children and my family suffering from not having access to water supply.”

“We really need a water tank and life will be so much easier if we have a water tank. We won’t have to pay for any vehicle anymore. Life without water is very difficult because we need water daily.”

If you want to make life easier for Ms. Togia and her family, she can be contacted on 762-3115.

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 14 October 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>