Assessment Of Urban Potable Water Availability and Accessibility in Kigali City, Rwanda

ABSTRACT There is insufficient freshwater in the world for everyone’s essential personal and domestic needs (Johns, 1998). However, lack of distribution nei:works and working systems to extract groundwater or harvest rainwater; exclusion from these services or facilities; inequitable allocation of water resources; and pollution, limit people’s access to sufficient clean water. Large numbers of households in cities around the developing world do not have access to safe drinking water. This study was about urban potable water availability and accessibility in Kigali City, especially in the selected sectors of Gatovu, Nyabugogo, and Kacyiru in Kigali city. A field survey was conducted using questionnaire that were administered to 100 respondents selected purposively. Statistical data analyses were performed using SPSS version 16.0, and maps were produced with Arc GIS software version 9.3 and 10. The water quality was studied in the laboratories and analyzed by Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS). Pearson correlation coefficient (PrCC) was done to analyze the associations between the Physico~ chemical contaminants in the potable ground water sources such as River water, improved ground well and rain water. The water quality in the available water sources was however below or within acceptable levels of drinking water in comparison with WHO (2011) standards. Physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics tested were in the range that is palatable to humans. Furthermore, the existing water network was not evenly distributed over the entire area of Kigali city which showed lack of safe potable water in many areas. Poor availability and accessibility of potable water have negative impacts such as diseases, accidents, insecurity for vulnerable groups like women and children, and economical constraints like high costs of water bills and transport for long distances. Based on current situation, there is need for government to improve rainwater harvesting and management in Kigali city.

Key words: Potable watei, availability, accessibility, governance, physico-chemica4 management. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents Page

DECLARATION

APPROVAL

DEDICATION W

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

LIST OF FIGURES ix

LIST OF PLATES X

LIST OF ACRONYMS xi

ABSTRACT XV

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background of the study 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 3

1.3 Objectives of the study 4

1.4 Research questions 4

1.5 Hypothesis 5

1.6. Significance of the study 5

1.7 Scope of the study 6

1.8 Definition of key Concepts 8

CHAPTER TWO 9

2.0 LiTERATURE REVIEW 9

V

2.1 Potable water sources for urban areas ...................~9

2.2 Availability and accessibility of potable water in urban areas~10

2.3 Urban water resources degradation and quality in Rwanda ....................................... 13

2.4 Challenges faced by urban communities in accessing safe potable water ..................... 15

18

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS ........................~.18

3.1

3.2

Research

Research design

population~

20

3.3 Sample Size 20

3.4 Tools for data collection 22

3.5 Laboratory testing 22

3.6 Statistical Analyses 23

CHAPTER FOUR 24

4.0 SPATIAL AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF SAFE POTABLE WATER SOURCES FOR

KIGALI CITY COMMUNiTIES 24

4.1 Abstract 24

4.2 Introduction 25

4.3 Materials and methods 27

4.4 Results and discussion 28

4.5 Evaluation of Rainwater harvesting and management 43

4.6 Conclusion 46

CHAPTER FIVE 48

5.0 A COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF POTABLE GROUND WATER AND RAIN WATER

QUALITY IN KIGALI CITY 48

5.2 Introduction 49

5.3 Materials and methods~49

5.4 Results and discussion 50

5.5 Conclusion 58

CHAPTER SIX 59

6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATONS 59

6.1 Conclusion 59

6.2. Recommendations 60

REFERENCES 62

APPENDICES 67