Water shortage in Kalemie: the wind agitating Lake Tanganyika hinders the distribution of drinking water
For the past week, many neighborhoods in the city of Kalemie, located in the province of Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of Congo, have been facing an unprecedented water shortage. This situation is due to the violent wind which blows and agitates Lake Tanganyika, preventing REGIDESO, the public company in charge of water distribution, from capturing the necessary water.
The head of the REGIDESO center, Gilbert Magala, explained that the phenomenon called “Saba-Saba”, a persistent wind that has lasted for seven days, is disrupting the activities of the company. The capture of water from Lake Tanganyika becomes almost impossible, which leads to a significant reduction in the supply of drinking water to the inhabitants.
This water shortage affects many areas of the city, thus depriving the population of daily access to drinking water. In addition, this situation increases the risk of the spread of diseases such as cholera, endangering the health of the inhabitants of Kalemie.
REGIDESO is trying to deal with this situation by organizing sectoral water distribution, prioritizing certain neighborhoods when the lake is not too rough. However, this method is not enough to overcome the lack of water, and the population continues to suffer from the consequences of this shortage.
This crisis also highlights the obsolete state of REGIDESO’s infrastructure. Some of the equipment used for collecting and pumping water dates back to the colonial era, which makes the situation even more difficult to manage.
Faced with this persistent water shortage, it is essential that emergency measures be taken to ensure an adequate supply of drinking water to the population of Kalemie. It is essential to invest in the modernization of REGIDESO’s infrastructure in order to guarantee continuous access to water, while taking preventive measures to avoid the spread of diseases.
In conclusion, the water shortage in Kalemie due to the wind that agitates Lake Tanganyika is a worrying situation that requires immediate action. It is essential that the competent authorities take measures to resolve this crisis and guarantee access to drinking water for the population of this city. Upgrading water supply infrastructure is also key to avoiding such shortages in the future