Fiji National Liquid Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan 2007.

The National Liquid Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The overall purpose of this Strategy is to ensure sustainable liquid waste management in Fiji. The key objectives of the National Liquid Waste Management Strategy are to: (I) reduce the amount of wastewater produced in Fiji, (II) develop waste management and disposal systems to improve wastewater quality, (III) strengthen collaboration between all relevant stakeholders , and (IV) raise public awareness in relation to sanitation and wastewater management.
This Strategy stresses on the negative impacts of discharge of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater from industry, agriculture, and sewage in order to protect human health, environment, ecosystems, and natural resources. The different types of liquid waste covered under the Strategy include domestic wastewater such as sewage and greywater; commercial and industrial wastewater; animal waste; marine shipping; urban stormwater; leachate from landfills/dumps; and sludge. Regulatory framework will be developed and enforced in the management of sewage, industrial wastewater, animal waste, and other wastewater. Actions will be taken to provide the most efficient, environmentally friendly and culturally appropriate sewage management system. Awareness of all relevant stakeholders will be raised regarding sewage, industrial wastewater management options and best practices. To this end, standards will be developed for discharge; appropriate, cost effective and environmentally friendly systems will be developed for villages and settlements; and data will be collected from different liquid waste management systems. Infrastructure will be developed for improved sewage and wastewater management in urban, peri-urban and rural areas. A communication plan will be developed to increase the awareness of sewage system owners and general public on the key issues related to sewage and wastewater management. In addition to that, trainings will be carried out to develop the skills of sewage and wastewater managers in accordance with the training needs assessment. An effective system will be set up to monitor all wastewater discharges. Operational guidelines will be developed for the major industries to minimize liquid waste generation. Liquid waste treatment infrastructure will be upgraded at significant industrial wastewater dischargers. The capacities of industry personnel will be increased on the negative impacts of industrial wastewater on human health and environment. In order to minimize the amount of liquid waste discharged by the tourism industry, data on current tourism waste management practices will be collected and thereafter more sustainable options will be identified. The negative effect of animal wastewater on the environment and human health will be reduced through best practices, animal waste management standards, capacity building, monitoring, and inspection. Moreover, a Livestock Farmers Union will be established to oversee the implementation of animal waste water management systems.