Senators call for urgent measures to curb water losses

The issue was raised Tuesday as the Senate Committee on Economy and Finance presented a report on government efforts to expand access to clean water. The committee found that about 39.4% of water treated by plants is lost, mainly through leakages in the distribution system.

Committee chair Fulgence Nsengiyumva said the loss rate is too high and called for stronger measures to reduce it. Current plans aim to lower water loss to 25% by 2029, but senators urged authorities to push the figure below 15%.

Senator Alphonse Nkubana proposed introducing modern monitoring technology to quickly detect leaks in pipelines. He said alert systems could help WASAC identify damaged pipes and respond faster, reducing the amount of water wasted.

Other senators warned that leaks not only waste treated water but can also damage infrastructure.

Senator Pélagie Uwera said the losses are a double burden because the country invests heavily in treating water while many citizens still struggle to access it. She also raised concerns that some public water kiosks do not follow tariffs set by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority.

Senator John Bonds Bideri said Rwanda has the capacity to expand clean water access to villages but stressed the importance of reducing water lost before it reaches consumers.

Following the debate, the Senate called on the government to speed up construction of 25 planned water treatment plants, expand water pipelines from 35,001 kilometers in 2024 to 39,639 kilometers by 2029, and replace aging equipment.

Senators also recommended establishing a stronger system to monitor the quality of water supplied to communities, including water provided by private operators in rural areas.