A new water distribution system, designed to supply 10,000 people, has been built in Kinkala (pop. 362,358 in 2005), the capital of Pool Department, where most of the water and electricity networks were destroyed during the civil war. With the new system the proportion of people with access to safe water will increase, but only from 6% to 8%.
“The scarcity of drinking water not only affects Pool, but all other departments in Congo.
In Gamboma, 325km north of Brazzaville, tap water is available only on one day in four”.
Despite its abundant water resources, Congo is one of the worst countries in Africa in terms of the availability of drinking water: coverage in rural areas is 11 percent, against 52 percent in urban and semi-urban areas.
To improve rural water service, a draft law has been approved to set up a National Agency for Rural Water Development.
Backed by a Chinese organisation, Congo is preparing to build a second water works in the capital Brazzaville, with a capacity of 10,000 cubic metres per hour.
Some US$ 212 million is being invested to achieve 90% water coverage in Brazzaville by 2010.
Source: IRIN, 26 Jun 2008
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