Bujumbura Water Supply Extension Project

Burundi is one of the poorest countries in Africa, and its water supply and sanitation services need ample improvement. Bujumbura’s existing water supply system has inadequate capacity (approximately 96,000 m3/day) and lacks the quality to meet the demands of its increasing population. There are neighbourhoods that are without water for up to ten consecutive days. The southern part of Bujumbura, which is the only possible expansion area, currently has no drinking water distribution infrastructure.

The main aim of our project is to extend the current water supply system with a raw water intake system, an extensible drinking water treatment plant and improvements to the transmission and distribution network, in order to produce and deliver an extra 45,000 m3/day. Keeping in mind the millennium development goals (halving the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2015) but also the excessive growth rate, investments will have long-term use.

A short- and long-term objective is to further improve of safety and social development by improving health and technical and financial performance. Thereby, an economic stimulus for existing and new companies and industries is provided and the position of women and children will increase. Women and children are usually burdened with the task of fetching drinking water.

With the design and engineering for the extension of the current water supply system with a raw water intake system, a drinking water treatment plant and improvements to the transmission and distribution network, the Bujumbura project is a typical example of our Africa portfolio.