Water shortage in the Great Lakes region, a paradox

Clean water is paradoxically a scarce commodity in the Great Lakes region. The paradox stems from the alarming pollution levels of natural water resources, particularly those of Lake Tanganyika. A source of water for surrounding countries (Burundi, DRC, Tanzania and Zambia), the lake poses a real threat to the health of riverine populations.

By Marie-Claire Ndikumana, Bujumbura

“The water from the Lake is very filthy and puts those who drink it at risk.” According to Jacques Nduwayezu, a resident of Rumonge in southern Burundi, Lake Tanganyika has become a dumping ground.
The water contains large quantities of plastic bags, bottles and other waste from neighbouring factories.

Corpses
Water infrastructures are still largely underdeveloped in this East African country. While most Burundians get their water from the lake, those in the Gatumba region, adjacent to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), use the water from the Rusizi river. Jeanne Irambona, who lives close to the river, admits that it is simply impossible to find clean water in the region. “We use the filthy water of the Rusizi, which contains wastes of all kinds and sometimes even corpses”, she says.

Cholera outbreak
Diseases linked to poor hygiene have been reported in various parts of Burundi. A cholera epidemic has been claiming lives in Rumonge for weeks. This is because most people in this part of the Bururi province still drink polluted water from Lake Tanganyika.

The Burundian Minister of Water, Environment and Land Management, Jean Marie Nibirantije declared that the government are aware of the situation. He added that some factories are aggravating the situation by pouring their waste waters into the Lake. According to him, steps are being taken to resolve the situation.

The United Nations predicted, within the Millennium Development Goals framework, that access to clean water in Burundi would reach 73,5% by 2015. But with no concrete solutions coming from the Burundi government, such ambitions seem to be farfetched.

A solution?
Dutch company MPI-group say they have an answer. The company has developed a device - called the Micro Purification Water Unit or MPWU - that promises potable water as well as new jobs to flood-thirsty communities.

“It is a purification unit half the size of a sea container that can produce up to 60.000 liters of clean water per year, without adding chemicals to it," says MPI’s Manager Business Development Pieter Rem. "Because people need about five liters of water per day, it can accommodate for up to 12.000 customers," he adds.

"One unit is currently being used in Mombasa, Kenya, but parties in India and Bangladesh are showing so much interest that we cannot grant all requests," Rem admits. "Yet, we do not sell the MPWUs. Instead, we set up micro water companies that use the unit to produce clean water and then sell it either in bottles or in bulk. That is how we create jobs."

Watch below a video on the MPWU: