NEWS in brief
maximize ground water recharge by reducing the runoff
and also to improve the water quality.
The Minister of Natural Resources Vincent Biruta, on
Thursday, took to twitter to shed light on the novel plan
and he indicated that the management of water resources is
done by catchment and Rwanda has nine main catchments
and 20 sub catchments.
Catchment means an area contributing the water runoff to
a common point like a river or a lake.
Biruta said: “The main strategies under the water master
plan include multipurpose dams, rain water harvesting and
ground water recharge through afforestation and radical
terracing.
“Multipurpose dams have more than one use. They can
be used for electricity generation, irrigation and domestic
supply. Multipurpose dams are being considered on
Muvumba, Nyabarongo and Akanyaru”.
Implementation of the master plan is already underway.
Ongoing projects include design of the first mufti-purpose
dam in Rwanda on river Muvumba in eastern Province.
Official figures indicate that Rwanda receives a total rainfall
of 27.505 billion cubic meters per annum. The total
renewable water resources is 6.826 billion cubic meters per
annum while the ground water recharge is 4.554 billion
cubic meters per annum.
The ministry also says Rwanda is categorized as an
“economically water scarce country.”
However, it is also noted that it is also a country with
potential for having enough renewable water resources like
high rainfall but needs to make s