Residents of some Kigali suburbs have cried foul as the Electricity, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) struggles to meet the demand for the increasingly scarce water.

Kimironko, Nyarugenge, Gatsata, Kicukiro, Kabeza and Gikondo residents have complained of longer spells of water rationing than in other parts of the city.

In parts of Nyamirambo and Kimisagara, residents have resorted to natural sources of water such as hot springs while those with reserves sell a 20-litre jerrycan for as much as Rwf200.

“We never have constant supply of water here. Sometimes we walk for more than a kilometre to fetch water,” said Vivian Uwitonze, a resident of Gitega in Nyarugenge Sector.

Long queues of people with plastic containers waiting for their share of water can be witnessed in this area every morning.

Ms Uwitonze added that, just as in other parts of Nyarugenge District, including Nyarambo, Kimisagara, Gatsata and Biryogo, residents were getting used to the routine.

Dry taps are said to be the norm in Kimironko where water is sometimes available only at night.

It is however expected that the shortage will continue for some time, at least until the rains resume from late next month up to September.

Theoneste Minani, the water and sewerage utility director at EWSA, said the officials are aware of the problem.

He said the company is already implementing its strategy to increase production so as to supply water-stressed areas and enforce the distribution network in Kigali and other towns.

“For specific areas, we have already started to address technical problems which cause poor water services, including enforcing the existing network of Kimironko,” said Mr Minani.

That involves replacement of small pipes, modification of some node and increasing production at Kinyinya spring source and pumping station from 800-1,400 cubic meters per day, he explained. 

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Higher demand

“For Gatsata and Nyamirambo, the water shortage is experienced by a few people who have built their houses further up the Kigali and Jali mountains, where water need to be pumped at the head of 400 metres from the treatment plants.” 

EWSA says that during the dry season demand is very high as people do not have alternative sources of water.

High consumption is caused by daily watering of gardens, frequent washing of vehicles and, in some instances, wetting the roads to reduce dust, in addition to the normal domestic and industrial water consumption.

A rationing schedule is among the tools EWSA uses to manage water supply when demand is higher than production. Short-term solutions include optimising the production infrastructure (treatment plants) and enforcing the distribution network, especially in areas where development was done without proper settlement planning.

EWSA is procuring a PPP investment company to produce and maintain a 40,000m³/day treatment plant. Once the procurement is completed, construction will take 18 months, and this will cover demand for the medium term (up to 2019) in Kigali.

The long-term solution is the construction a 100,000m³/day water production and transportation facility from Mutobo to Kigali, Bugesera and Muhanga. This project is also under procurement process, Mr Minani said.

Discriminated against

Some people however argue that parts of the city are discriminated against, with upmarket suburbs such as Nyarutarama, Gaculiro, Kagarama and Kacyiru maintaining a near constant supply.

But, according to Mr Minani, that is because areas such as Kimironko, Migina and Nyamirambo have a poor distribution network owing to the absence of a proper settlement plan.

“People have been connecting themselves to their neighbours using very small pipes over the years and this has created a long network of small pipes (spaghetti), which causes poor water services no matter how much water you transport to the area,” Mr Minani said.

“Another reason is that some areas, such as Nyamirambo, are on higher ground (than the water source), which makes it difficult for water to reach them.”