A new water treatment plant designed to address persistent water shortages in parts of Karongi District has been completed and has started supplying clean water to residents, the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) has announced.
The facility, constructed under the first phase of the Kivu Belt Water Supply System project, has the capacity to treat 13,000 cubic metres of water per day and is already supplying communities in Rubengera and Bwishyura sectors.
The project is expected to improve access to clean and reliable water for more than 130,000 people across Karongi District, while also benefiting key institutions including hotels, schools and healthcare facilities.
MININFRA described the completion of the plant as a major step toward improving water supply in Rwanda’s Western Province, where growing demand has increased pressure on existing water infrastructure.
The ministry said the new facility will help ensure a more stable supply of safe water for households and service providers in the district.
The Kivu Belt Water Supply System uses water from the Musogoro River, which is treated at the plant before being distributed through a network of 10 reservoirs and 105 public water points. The water reaches consumers through a 124-kilometre pipeline system.
Construction of the first phase of the project started in 2023 and was completed at a cost of more than Rwf13 billion. A second phase of the project is planned for 2035 to further expand water supply capacity in the area.
The development is part of Rwanda’s broader efforts to increase access to safe water under the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), which targets universal access to clean water by 2029.
Under the national goal, residents in rural areas should not travel more than 500 metres to access water, while those in urban areas should be within 200 metres of a water source.
The government has identified improved water infrastructure as a key priority in enhancing public health, supporting economic activities and improving living standards across the country.
