Madagascar: neighborhoods of Antananarivo without water due to low rainfall
Audio 01:24
With the drying up of the Imamba River, the drinking water pumping and distribution station in Ambohipanja, north of the capital, is at a standstill.
© Laetitia Bezain / RFI
Text by: Laetitia Bezain Follow
2 mins
Water distribution in the Malagasy capital is disrupted by the lack of rainfall in the region, while the rainy season usually begins in November.
To remedy this period of low water, which continues in December and which deprived several districts and suburbs of the capital during the day of water, Jirama, the water and electricity distribution company, notably set up a rotational feeding of the districts.
Advertising
Read more
From our correspondent in Antananarivo,
“
The water doesn't come back until 2
a.m. and it cuts off three hours later, around 5
a.m.
,” laments Aina, who
does not have running water in her home
.
Going to the neighborhood standpipe is a daily chore for him: “
There is a queue of at least 20
meters each time.
The flow is very low.
We have to get up early every day if we want water and we can't really sleep.
»
On the banks of the Imamba River, the Ambohipanja drinking water pumping and production station – which supplies the northern districts – is shut down.
"
You
see there, there is still 40 centimeters of water lacking for this station to work
," explains Andrinirina Rakoto, head of water operations
at Jirama
in Antananarivo.
Four pumping stations located to the north, south and west of the capital are affected by the drying up of the rivers.
“
Conflict of use
” with the “
cultivators
”
"
Until now, our production capacity has not yet been able to meet the needs of the population of Antananarivo and the low water period is further aggravating this production gap
," continues Andrinirina Rakoto.
One of the solutions that we give to users is the installation of several cylinders in the affected neighborhoods.
The Jirama also tries to capture the water still available in the rivers by digging canals or cofferdams
[temporary water retention, editor's note]
.
We also carry out, with the General Directorate of Meteorology, operations to provoke rain.
Here, in particular, there is also a conflict of use since this same river is also used for the irrigation of farmers.
The Jirama is negotiating with the local authority so that we can share the water that is available.
»
While the demand for water in the capital is 300,000 m3 per day in the capital, the Jirama only produces 225,000 m3 outside the low water period.
►
Also to listen:
Madagascar: waste is piling up in several districts of the capital
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
Madagascar
Water
Agriculture and Fishing
Natural disasters