Residents of Musanze city and its Peri-Urban ereas have now full access to clean water after the completed project on Rehabilitation, Upgrading and Extension of Water Supply Networks in Musanze city and it’s Peri-Urban Areas that include some parts of Gakenke District”
This is one of the projects financed by the African Development Bank under Rwanda Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program, a program that is aiming at improving the quality of life and socio-economic development of the people and country by ensuring equitable provision of adequate, reliable and sustainable water and sanitation services for targeted cities with a view to promote economic growth and transformation.
The implementation of the project by WASAC resulted in the construction of 151.117 Km pipelines, 25 new reservoirs with Capacity of 6370m3, 30 New Water Kiosks, 15 chlorination units, one new Pumping station, rehabilitation of 98 water taps and one reservoir, protection of 2 water sources, rehabilitation of 17 sources in rural ereas, and 1500 poor families were connected to water free of charge.
Residents grateful for the project…
Residents of Nyagisozi Cell, Busogo Sector, in Musanze District are among the project beneficiaries. These residents have been facing challenges of fetching water from sources located in the mountains on long distances, something that was not only affecting them, but also affecting children as they were sometimes missing classes.
HAKIZIMFURA Theoneste is one of them who currently fetches water from one of the constructed public taps.
“We could walk a distance of 2.5 km to find water down the mountains and sometimes that it was not clean. But now it is easy because we have water near our homes at 200 meters. Children go to school on time and they no longer miss classes. We are very happy for having enough clean water that we use for cooking, and washing. Our hygiene has improved”, said HAKIZIMFURA.
MUHAWENIMANA Sezariya aged 47 and MUKAMBAYI Drocelle aged 51 are amongst the poor families connect to clean water free of charge. They said that they did not expect getting water at their homes as they were not able to pay water connections.
“It was like a miracle for me and I never thought getting water tap at my home as we had no amount of money required to get water connections. I appreciate for no longer carrying a jerrycan of water from public taps, something which was painful for me “Said Muhawenimana.
“It’s with a great importance to have water in my home. I have a child who used to suffer from headaches and nosebleeds due to fetching water and carrying jerrycans and I was sometimes obliged to take her to the health facility for treatment. We are grateful for WASAC support”, Mukambayi said.
Mutobo Water Treatment Plant doubled water supply capacity
Mutobo Water Treatment Plant produces water that supplies Musanze District, but it also has the capacity to supply the neighboring districts. After networks extension and the rehabilitation of the old ones and the construction of new reservoirs, the plant has doubled its water supply to the population. It has been supplying around 75000 Cubic meters daily, but it is currently able to supply 15000 cubic meters.
Murigo Jean Claude, the Manager of WASAC-Musanze Branch said that residents of Musanze City and its peri urban ereas have now full access to clean water and there is no more rationing after water supply increment.
“Unless there is a technical problem that might affect water supply, Musanze city residents and peri-urban ereas of Musanze, Kimonyi, Muko, Nkotsi Sectors… have access to water 24hrs/24hrs. No more water rationing”, Murigo said.
Xavier Rwibasira, the SPIU Coordinator at WASAC said that the project was initiated with aim to address water scarcity in some parts of Musanze city and its peri-urban ereas, as a touristic and growing city and to improve hygiene and sanitation.
He requested Musanze residents to take care of the water infrastructures provided to them and take advantages of them.
The project has been planned to serve 523,904 residents in Musanze District as a projection in 2040 from 346,314. It was implemented from 2ndMarch 2019 until 15th May 2021.
