Sake Water Supply System Addresses Water Shortage for Over 340,000 Ngoma District Residents

Residents in these areas previously faced significant challenges in accessing clean water. Many households struggled with severe water shortages, relying on distant sources, walking long distances, and spending large amounts of money just to obtain water.

The system, completed in May 2025, includes a water treatment plant located in Zaza Sector along the shores of Lake Mugesera, with a daily production capacity of 11,000 m³. It features 140 kilometers of water pipelines, reservoirs, 17 water points, and booster stations.

Residents are grateful for the project, which has already begun improving their lives 

According to Nsabimana Etienne, the Chief of Igifurere Village in Nyagasozi Cell, Zaza Sector, residents are overjoyed to have clean water close to their homes after years of struggle.

“It is truly something special to have a water point with flowing water so near our homes,” he said. “We even held a celebration to mark this milestone. We no longer struggle to find water — we now have a reliable and sufficient supply for drinking, farming, and construction activities. We are very grateful and thankful to our President for making this possible.”

Another resident added, “We used to rely on dirty water from Lake Mugesera, which led to waterborne diseases — some children even lost their lives while fetching water from the lake. To get clean water, we had to walk nearly 6 kilometers, spend around two hours, or pay 100 Rwandan Francs per jerrican. We are truly grateful to WASAC Group for building the water treatment plant, which has given us easy access to clean water. We are now ready to make individual household connections.”

The Sake Water Supply System has also improved access to water for various institutions, including schools, health centers, and industries.

“With the previous water shortages, we used to spend around 4,000 Rwandan Francs per day on 20 jerricans of water,” said Hakizimana Emmanuel, Deputy Head of Zaza Health Center. “At times, we even had to send our cleaners or casual staff to fetch water for cleaning. We truly appreciate the current situation, as we now have a constant and reliable water supply.”

Nathalie Niyonagira, the Mayor of Ngoma District, expressed her appreciation for the collaboration with WASAC Group. “The Sake Water Supply System has helped us address water challenges, thereby enhancing hygiene and sanitation in the district as we work toward achieving universal water access in line with the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2),” she said.

The Sake Water Supply System was funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) as part of the Rwanda Transformative and Sustainable Water and Sanitation Program. Construction started in February 2023 and was completed in May 2025. The system comprises a water treatment plant situated in Zaza Sector, near the shores of Lake Mugesera, with a daily production capacity of 11,000 cubic meters. It also includes 140 kilometers of water pipelines, reservoirs, 17 water points, and booster stations.