Access to drinking water is a major issue in many parts of the world, and the community of Tenke, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has faced this problem for many years. However, since 2017, this agglomeration has benefited from a drinking water supply system thanks to the establishment of a water management cooperative.
The Tenke Water Management Cooperative (C.G.E.T.) is responsible for the community’s water supply. Every day, drinking water is pumped from 15 standpipes spread across Tenke and its outskirts. This cooperative operates independently and has stood out thanks to its good management and ambitious projects.
Since its creation, the C.G.E.T. managed to save $41,000 by selling water and charging for the public showers and toilets she built. These savings will be used to finance projects for the benefit of the entire population. For example, the cooperative plans to start packaging bottled water on site, in order to facilitate access to drinking water for the inhabitants of Tenke, who will no longer be forced to travel to Likasi to get there. procure.
In addition to this project, the C.G.E.T. is also considering the construction of a restaurant in Tenke, the brick-making phase of which is already underway. These initiatives were welcomed by Joseph Faray, health coordination assistant in the community development department of Tenke Mining, who stressed the importance of supporting these local initiatives and accompanying them in their development.
It is also important to note that the C.G.E.T. is not the only water management structure in the region. There is also the Water Wells Management Committee in the Concession (COGEPCO) and the Municipality of Fungurume, which manage the water circuit of the wells in the concession and Fungurume respectively. These structures benefit from technical support from Tenke Mining, which ensures the maintenance of the equipment and the supply of fuel necessary for the proper functioning of the water supply systems.
The establishment of these water management cooperatives in Tenke has considerably improved access to drinking water for the community. This demonstrates the importance of collaboration between local actors, companies and specialized organizations to find sustainable solutions to water supply problems. Thanks to these initiatives, the population of Tenke can now benefit from easier access to drinking water, thus contributing to improving their living conditions and their well-being