The public utility cooperation, Energy Water and Sanitation Authority (EWASA), has come out to explain the current water shortage in the country. Speaking to The New Times, the director of Water and Sewage, Theoneste Minani, said the current shortage has been brought about by the dry season and increased demand which can’t be sustained by the existing infrastructure. “Kigali alone require 80,000m3 per day, we are able to supply only 62,000 m3,” Minani said.“The dry season has escalated the problem because the sources can’t produce the quantities needed for domestic, industrial and agricultural use”. “In the dry season, the demand for water increases and the production remains the same,” added Minani, saying they had resorted to rationing. “Water that we supply to Kicukiro and Gatenga comes from Ntora and Kimisagara, the infrastructure to pump that water through Nyamirambo, Biryogo and Gisozi and other areas may not be able to do so, hence the scarcity. Also, reserving water to use during the dry season is not easy because production exceeds the available infrastructure,” Minani said.He was however quick to add that EWASA was working with development partners to address the problem. “We are currently working with the World Bank to improve the capacity of water treatment plants and distribution, and we also have a project to improve Nzove water plant to increase water production,” he added.The scarcity of water is not only affecting Kigali city but its countrywide. According to Minani, the available quantity of water is 71 per cent of the needed precious commodity. “We have carried out an assessment in all districts in order to solve this problem, we hope all Rwandans will have access to water by 2017, we want to reach 80 per cent in two years.”
