Fuvahmulah Residents Protest Amid Ongoing Water Crisis
Water supply issues sparked protests in Fuvahmulah | Photo: iburahimali via X
Fuvahmulah residents continued protests yesterday over an ongoing water crisis that began earlier this week, following the temporary suspension of water services due to contamination concerns.
ސާފު ބޯފެން ނުލިބޭތީ ފުވައްމުލަކު ރައްޔިތުން މުޒާހަރާ ކުރަނީ، ސަރުކާރުން މާދަމާރޭ މާލޭގައި ބޭއްވުމަށް ހަމަޖެހިފައިވާ ޖަލްސާއަށް މީހުން ގެންދަން 6 ފުލައިޓް ޝެޑިއުލްކޮށްފައި. pic.twitter.com/4bv9sc9h5r
— Ibrahim Ali (@iburahimali) November 12, 2025advertisement
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The disruption started on Monday afternoon after laboratory tests revealed unsafe levels of contamination in the island’s water network, which serves more than 9,000 residents. Fenaka Corporation stated that the suspension was necessary after unauthorised cross-connections were discovered in the system, violating water safety regulations.
Fuvahmulah Mayor Ismail Rafeeq said the city council had been informed of the contamination but had not received any formal written notice. He noted that inadequate monitoring by FENAKA contributed to the escalation and added that one of the island’s three water plants had already been out of operation for several days.
Despite government assurances on Tuesday that the issue would be resolved within hours, residents gathered outside the Fuvahmulah Water Plant to protest the delay. Demonstrators expressed frustration over the continued lack of access to safe water, with some calling for the resignation of the president and cabinet if the crisis persisted.
Presidential Spokesperson Heena Waleed stated that the water pipeline system had been disinfected in accordance with standards set by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) and the Health Protection Agency (HPA). Water storage facilities were cleaned, flushing began, and production resumed shortly after.
ފުވައްމުލައް ސިޓީގެ ވޯޓަރ ސަޕްލައިއަށް ދިމާވި މައްސަލައެއްގެ ސަބަބުން އެކަން ޙައްލުކޮށް އެ ސިޓީއަށް މިވަގުތު ބޭނުންވާ ފެން ފޯރުކޮށްދިނުމަށް ކަމާބެހޭ މުއައްސަސާތައް ގުޅިގެން ކުރަމުންދާ މަސައްކަތުގެ މަޢުލޫމާތު :-
މިމައްސަލަ ކުރިމަތި ވުމާއެކު ކަނޑާއި ވައިގެ މަގުން ފުވައްމުލައް…— Heena Waleed (@MvSpokesperson) November 11, 2025
Emergency water supplies have been flown to Fuvahmulah, including 500 cases of five-litre bottles, 1,300 cases of 1.5-litre bottles, and 1,000 cases of 500-millilitre bottles, which are now being distributed to households.
However, Mayor Rafeeq raised concerns that FENAKA was handling the distribution without involving the city council, despite the council having staff and vehicles available to assist.
As of Wednesday, the Fuvahmulah City Council confirmed that the water service disruption remained unresolved beyond the government’s previously announced deadline.
