Residents of Rutsiro and Rubavu districts in the Western Province have welcomed a newly inaugurated water plant in the area, saying it will help them improve hygiene.
Residents of Rutsiro and Rubavu districts in the Western Province have welcomed a newly inaugurated water plant in the area, saying it will help them improve hygiene.
Residents were speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of the water plant which is set to benefit over 55,000 households in Rutsiro and Rubavu districts.
The water plant was set up by the Water and Sanitation Corporation Ltd (WASAC) and development partners at a tune of Rwf1.4 billion.
It has capacity to produce 1,500 cubic meters of water per day.
In total, 158 water taps and eight water kiosks were constructed.
The plant is in line with government ambition of universal water coverage by 2020, according to officials.
Residents said they used to walk long distances to fetch water and some contracted diseases due to unclean water.
"We are very grateful for having water close to us; it took us a lot of time and energy to get water from distant places. Our children used to find it hard to combine fetching water and going to school. But, all this is going to change since we now have clean water closer to our homes,” said Violette Mukakanani, one of the beneficiaries.
"Life will change, our children will never suffer from diseases related to poor hygiene again. This water plant will be resourceful,” she added.
Germaine Kamayirese, the State Minister for Energy, Water and Sanitation affirmed government resolve to ensure that Rwandans have water closer to them.
She urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the water infrastructure and utilise the water to overcome hygiene related diseases and poverty.
"Water is life, all of us know how water is important and how difficult it is to maintain proper hygiene without clean water. That is why we ask you to play your role, take care of the plant. We can’t risk losing a facility that benefits over 55,000 families,” she said.
"You do not have to suffer from hygiene related diseases, you need to drink clean water, families which suffer from diseases do not develop, only healthy families develop,” she told the residents.
She urged local leaders to ensure more residents get clean water.
Statistics from WASAC indicate that access to clean water is at 76 per cent, while the national access to improved sanitation facilities is at 83.4 per cent.
James Sano, WASAC chief executive officer, said the company will keep working with partners to ensure the set target to avail water to all is achieved in time and at a lower cost.
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