Eight hundred islanders will benefit from about seven desalination units that will be installed soon.

A little over three million dollars has been given to the Ministry of Works from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to buy and install the desalination units in four small islands in the country.

The units will be installed in Vanuabalavu, Viwa island in Yasawa and Kia and Kavewa both in Macuata.

These islands face continues water problems especially during the dry periods.

The desalination units will treat seawater as potable drinking water.

The grant also covers a year of operation cost in running the units.