Val Felise can handle most things – including the tough job of looking after his family and tending to daily chores around the house.

What he has had absolutely enough of is the inconsistent supply of water that has plagued his village of Samusu-uta for so long.

The 20-year-old was working to weed their plantation when the Village Voice approached him yesterday.

Val takes care of his father. There are only two of them at home as his other siblings work overseas.

According to Val, everything this great until it comes to the issue of water.

He said their government-supplied water is so inconsistent sometimes it goes off for several weeks.

 “When our water is off, it becomes a day-to-day struggle for us to find water. This is the problem that we can’t seem to overcome at this stage.”

Val is thankful that they have a well in the village where they resort to when they are desperate. They can also fetch water from the coastal areas.

Either way, it takes a lot of work.

He is uncomfortable because this is 2017 and he doesn’t think people in Samoa should be carting buckets of water on the road anymore.

 “We are desperate and in need of proper access to water,” he said.

He wouldn’t mind a water tank either.

“It would be really helpful if we get a water tank.”

“It can help reduce the work I do and gives us more access to proper water.”

 “Because when our water is off … fetching water is not an easy job in fact it takes up a lot of effort to do it.”

The young man is also concerned about other people misusing water.

“I see so many people abusing water because they don’t fix the leaks,” he said. “They have no idea there are people like us who desperately need it. I think they should fix these leaks or else the government should punish them appropriately.”