The Namara Waste Treatment Plant in Labasa is under stress.

During a tour of the plant last week, Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate was told, the plant is taking more than its allowed to.

The plant was initially designed to cater for 5, 000 people but it’s now servicing more than 11, 000 customers.

Water Authority Regional Manager North Apete Radrodrolagi told the Minister, to cater for the increasing demand, the Authority has plans to set up another plant.

This is the only treatment plant in the country that treats waste naturally, that is, through the sun.

It uses the anaerobic pond system, which basically means there are a series of ponds and each pond has a function in treating the waste.

The facility has 16 pumping stations across Labasa, with 1, 699 customers, 1, 221 domestic, 425 commercial and 53 industrial.