Water and sanitation corporation is undertaking a $7 million water project to stop water rationing.

A second public private partnership project is also underway with unspecified investment in Kanzenze Nyamata district, Eastern province that will produce 40,000 cubic metres of water when completed in two years.

The new water projects have been as a result of acute water shortage and rationing, which has affected the country over the years.

However, Rwandans especially town dwellers will continue to experience water shortages and increased rationing at least for the next two years when government expects to complete the two water projects.

Water rationing especially in Kigali is severe that some parts of the city can go for days without water while others have water for a few hours.

Shortage of water especially in Kigali city is attributed to increasing population as a result of rural-urban migration, which has stretched government capacity to produce and supply adequate water.

It is estimated that there are over 1.5 million people in Kigali alone during the day and one million at night.

Currently, WASAC produces 65,000 cubic metres of water per day and it is projected that it will increase to 90,000 cubic metres by the end of the year.
The water crisis in Kigali has led to a high cost of water in areas that are hard hit.

In some places of Kigali like Nyakabanda, Nyamirambo and Kimironko that experience some of the worst water supply, purchase a 20-litre container at Rwf500, which is more than ten times the normal cost.

“We have been promised consistent water supply several times but water shortage has continued to be experienced,” said Dianne Mukamunana, a Kimironko resident.

With expected 40,000 cubic metres of water in two years, the government is targeting over 130,000 cubic metres of water in the medium-term to ease pressure.

It estimated that additional 425,000 and 500,000 people will gain access to improved water supply and sanitation respectively each year countrywide.

Comparing estimates of the required capital investment with what is expected to be available from governments, donors and household, there is an annual financing gap of $27 million per year.

James Sano, chief executive of WASAC said the government is responding to the water rationing through such projects and adequate water for the country will be achieved.

“At the moment there is no adequate water supply in the country but in the next two years, this will have been solved because the young projects we have today will have matured,” said Mr Sano.

The parastatal is also suffering from financial losses as a result of revenue collection from unbilled water that customers consume.

The government is expected to collect Rwf12 billion every year from water bills but over 20 per cent of this does not reach the state coffers because of leakages in the system.

As a result of unbilled water, WASAC is introducing an electronic payment system to replace it with the manual system. The water body has integrated the system to work with GT Bank, Bank of Kigali and telecom firm, MTN Rwanda to facilitate the service.