The national public utilities’ cooperation, Electrogaz, might resort to water rationing as it seeks to tackle the current shortage of the precious commodity, which they attribute to increased demand.

According to the cooperation’s acting head, Yves Muyange, several measures have been put in place to deal with shortages.

Among these, Muyange said, a test was being conducted around several city areas, to find out how rationing can be efficiently conducted, probably starting early next month.

As the dry spell continues to affect water provision, Electrogaz, maintains that the water situation is not critical and that measures are being worked out to fix supply hitches.

"We are still testing it {water rationing plan) out and cannot just announce it now because we first have to try it out, check where there might be problems.”

"The situation is not as critical as you may think production in Electrogaz is still the same but what is happening now is that the weather has changed, we are in a dry season and demand has increased,” Muyange told reporters.

"During these times, people tend to use more water and then, of course, in rainy seasons, they use rain water too, which is not available now, thus the increased demand for water.”

According to the Water and Electricity public utility, current production is estimated at 33,000 cubic meters while demand is estimated at 55,000 cubic meters.

"We have done our best to maintain production even if we have gone three weeks without rain water, which is our main source also.”

Electrogaz recently held meetings with locals along the Mulindi wetland, the source of most of the city’s water, and agreed on a water sharing plan.

"We agreed with them on the times they can hold the water (for irrigation) so that we can also get it as usual, on a daily basis.”

"We are trying to cover the maximum areas with the same production that we have but also we are speeding up Nyabarongo project.”

Nyabarongo project is projected to produce 40, 000 cubic meters and is expected to provide 10, 000 cubic meters of water this week.

"We have agreed with them that in a week’s time, we shall have at least ten thousand cubic meters a day, at Gisozi where the new tanks are located.”

In addition, small water pipes around the city are being replaced with larger ones.

"In some areas like Kanombe, Gisozi, Kicukiro and Kivugiza in Nyamirambo we are working to improve the existing systems where we intend to bring in water from another source which is in Kimihurura.”

Eliphaz Rurangirwa, in charge of production at Electrogaz, noted that Kigali has over one million inhabitants – water users, including temporary residents – those who come to work in city.

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