Negotiations are in advanced stages with entities that can upgrade water networks in Kigali and six secondary cities across the country, the Minister for Infrastructure, James Musoni, has said.

This, Musoni said, is to ensure that the rehabilitation and upgrading of water systems in the cities can begin next fiscal year, that starts in July.

The minister said the move will see the water networks manageable using computer or phone-based system with comprehensive database.

He said the current water networks are mainly in Kigali and are old and the issue affects proper water services.

Musoni, who was speaking in Kigali on Sunday as he joined employees of the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) to mark the International Labour Day, said the new networks will be rehabilitated to solve some issues as they will boost water distribution and minimise losses through online system monitoring.

Musoni said the upgrades will ensure the networks consist of large pipes to ensure enough water is pumped and is in tandem with the size of the population in the particular city.

"This time, the pipes are plastic piping, which is different from the current ones that are largely metallic and were, therefore, corrosive,” he said.

"In the new system, the fault will be fixed as soon as it is identified. This will increase services to the people and at the same time] reduce water loss through leakage.”

Recently, WASAC received two recognitions, including the Global Leader Award it won from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for good services.

WASAC chief executive James Sano said the Abu Dhabi award was bestowed to them because of the good transformation that include increasing water revenues from about Rwf900 million to about Rwf1.5 billion currently, and ensuring that 100 per cent of the subscribers are billed.

Sano said after the completion of Nzove II water treatment plant, they will embark on Nzove I, which will start with producing 40,000 cubic metres of water per day, but will have installed capacity of 65,000 cubic metres.

The Nzove I project is expected to be complete in six months (by February 2017) with its construction works due to start end of the month.

Once completed, the daily water supply in the City of Kigali will be at least 130,000 cubic metres that is above the current 100,000 cubic metres estimated daily water demand in the city.

Sewerage system

Minister Musoni said the water issue will be solved soon, noting that the City of Kigali must have 100 per cent clean water.

He challenged WASAC that much as a lot was being done to ensure Rwandans access clean water, much effort must be put into having in place a proper sewerage system.

Musoni said, so far, residential estate and commercial buildings in Kigali are using semi-centralised sewerage systems and that there are decentralised sewage systems at household level where a person might use like a septic tank for waste disposal.

Residents, especially those with lack of financial means to set up proper waste management systems, have been struggling to manage liquid wastes.

"So, we want to take another step so that we set up a centralised sewage system, where all those [small systems] link to the same place,” he said.

The Kigali sewage system project is estimated to cost Euro 70 million.

Sano said the project will see improved waste management as all waste will be treated in the same system and get processed in one treatment plant.

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