Rwanda faces water rationing due to drought

KIGALI, Monday

Electrogaz, Rwanda’s public utility, is considering water rationing due to shortages caused by a prolonged drought in parts of the country, officials said.

Mr Yves Muyange, the acting chief executive, said the country was now facing a deficit of up to 22,000 cubic metres of water everyday and had no alternative until supplies had been boosted.

“Starting this month, we are going to conduct rationing tests across major towns in the country to find out how to implement the programme,” he said.

Densely populated

Mr Muyange said efforts were under way to increase water production across the densely populated country of nine million people.

Environmental specialists blame the drought on climate change, with erratic rainfall and frequent dry spells combining to increase water shortages.

Mr Muyange said rationing would ensure that at least the whole country received some water for limited hours daily, to avoid situations where some areas went without water for weeks.

Inadequate water supply puts densely populated areas at risk of waterborne diseases, including cholera.

Mr Godie Kwizera, a resident of Gatuna near the border with Uganda, said water shortages had forced some residents to resort to unsafe sources such as streams. (Irin)