Approximately 354,000 people in Rwanda’s volcanic region are eagerly waiting for the completion of the Volcano Belt Water Supply System Project (Phase I) which aims to provide access to clean water for communities in Musanze, Nyabihu, and Rubavu districts. According to Vincent de Paul Mugwaneza, the officer in charge of water supply at the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC Group), the ongoing project will address the critical issue of water scarcity in the volcanic region, where people fetch water from the nearby Volcanoes National Park, thereby putting their lives in danger. ALSO READ: Rainwater harvesting transforms livelihoods in volcanic communities Launched in June, the project’s current overall progress is at 5 percent, the official noted. The first phase of the project was initiated primarily to provide water to support many area residents who are compelled to fetch water from unsafe and risky sources. The construction of key infrastructure, including a pipeline network of 172 kilometres and rehabilitation of the Mutobo plant, with a capacity of supplying 12,500 square meters per day, will ensure a reliable and safe water supply for communities living in high-altitude areas impacted by volcanic geolocalization. ALSO READ: Over 90 km of roads under construction to ease transport for Gishwati farmer in Nyabihu The project, with a total cost of Rwf13.2 billion is a vital component of the Rwanda sustainable water supply and sanitation programme with additional funds by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID). “The goal is to ensure a stable and safe water supply for communities living in volcanic regions, mitigating risks associated with water shortages and addressing the issue of fetching water in the nearby national park,” stated Mugwaneza. Local leaders such as Jean Claude Habanabakize, the Vice Mayor of Nyabihu District who is in charge of economic development, acknowledge the urgency of the situation to actively improve water access in Bigogwe, Kabatwa, Jenda, and Mukamira sectors. For him, with ongoing efforts to rehabilitate existing water lines and establish new infrastructure, the goal is to ensure that all residents have access to clean water and are protected from waterborne diseases. “We are still at 77.9 percent for our population with access to clean water, meaning that 22.1 percent have no clean water. We can't say they don't have water at all; they have a water scarcity issue, he said. “We have nine more water lines to be rehabilitated, costing Rwf500 million. This means we are under high pressure to supply clean water across the district.” In Musanze District, the project will run in Shingiro, Gataraga, and Gacaca sectors and Bugeshi, Mudende, and Rugerero sectors of Rubavu District. Emelence Nirere, a mother-of-three from Kabatwa Sector, is among the many residents eagerly awaiting the benefits of the project. She believes that access to clean water will not only improve hygiene and health outcomes but also enhance overall quality of life in the region. “It [project] will support this area in the fight against waterborne diseases and, of course, improve livelihood and hygiene at large,” Nirere said. The completion of the initial phase of the project will not only improve water access rates but also contribute to the government’s goal of achieving 100 percent water supply access in Rwanda by 2029. Official figures by WASAC show that Rwanda’s access to clean water is at 82.3 percent.
