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By Annonciata Byukusenge
The Eastern Province of Rwanda is a region that often faces water shortages because of frequent dry and hot weather. As a result, many residents choose to fetch unsafe water from swamps and lakes.
Residents report that some of the boreholes provided to them no longer function, while others still work but are located far away, requiring long walks to reach them.
Another reason people face water shortages is that both residents and their livestock share the same water sources. This puts more pressure on the limited supply, forcing many to fetch water from lakes such as Muhazi in Kayonza district and Cyohoha in Bugesera district.
The villagers have a water source at noon, so they stop to fetch water and prioritize the livestock.
However, residents of Ngoma District in this province say that the water problem has been resolved in their area because the NELSAP, under the Rusumo Hydropower project, provided them with clean water.
According to Dr. Judith Uwihirwe, possible solutions include finding alternative sources of water, putting limitations on groundwater use for irrigation, putting regulations and limitations on groundwater pumping, and adopting groundwater preservation, restoration, and replenishment techniques to ensure the balance between groundwater recharge and discharge in the eastern region of Rwanda.
