Deprived of drinking water, residents of Gihanga in Bubanza Province (western Burundi) must rely on river water, despite the health risks. Existing infrastructure is inadequate or sabotaged, and promised solutions are slow to materialize.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

According to local sources, there are no developed springs in the entire district. The only drinking water supply points come from catchments located in the natural forest of Kibira, on the Musigati side, but these facilities are located a long way away, and the water pipes are regularly sabotaged by residents of other districts. « Pipes are often damaged by disgruntled residents who can’t bear to see water being supplied to Gihanga while they themselves lack it, » explain residents of the district.

Technicians from Regideso, the company responsible for water distribution, regularly intervene to repair the pipes, but constant sabotage is making the situation critical.

A risky use of river water

Faced with this shortage, many residents have no choice but to turn to rivers. However, this water is polluted, and its consumption exposes the population to waterborne diseases.

A fountain that still has a few drops of water in Gihanga, February 2025 (SOS Médias Burundi)

« Here in Gihanga and the surrounding villages, we use river water because public fountains are dry, » say residents.

An underground water supply project, called « Amazi Water, » has been initiated to exploit underwater. However, the extracted water is unfit for consumption : it is salty, hot, and rusty deposits appear after a few hours of storage.

« When we draw it, it’s boiling. After a few hours in a container, rusty residue forms at the bottom. We fear it could be dangerous for our health, » confides one resident.

Broken promises

Residents of Gihanga denounce the authorities’ inaction despite the commitments made, particularly during the 2020 election campaign. « We were promised solutions. Two water supply lines were tapped for Kagwema and Buringa. But in Kagwema, not a drop has flowed, and in Buringa, the pipes were washed away by the Mpanda River three months ago, » they lament.

Regideso officials acknowledge the scale of the problem but point to a lack of funding to build new water catchments in the Kibira.

« The situation is critical. Funding is needed to develop new infrastructure. In the meantime, we call on the administration and security forces to prevent the theft of existing connections, » they say.

Residents of Gihanga, left to their own devices, hope that concrete measures will finally be taken to guarantee access to drinking water and protect their health.

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Residents of Gihanga at a water point that has almost none left, February 2025 (SOS Médias Burundi)