Chad to develop a drinking water supply in Kana

The government of Chad has launched the construction of a new drinking water supply (DWS) in Kana, in the province of Logone Occidental.

Minister of Hydraulics, Tahani Mahamat Hassane perfomed the launch ceremony and said that the projet is part of the Semi-Urban Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Programme being implemented in the country.

The water programme aims to improve the water supply to the inhabitants of this province where the current water coverage is estimated at 16%, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB). The programme, co-financed by the Chadian State and the AfDB, also aims to improve the living conditions of the population by 2030.

Read:Chad commence on Chokoyan drinking water supply project

Water crisis in Chad

The PAEPA SU MR is being implemented in several phases in eleven regions of Chad, where water access rates are below 60%. These are Borkou (19%), Ennedi (8%), Tibesti (5%), Mayo Kebbi Ouest (13%), Mayo Kebbi Est (22%), Tandjilé (31%), Logone Oriental (27%), Logone Occidental (16%), Mandoul (39%), Moyen Chari (42%), Salamat (40%) and Sila (27%).

The drinking water project will be undertaken by GTC Company. The company has been tasked to pump water from the water table to store it in a 100 m3 castle. The water will be distributed to the population via 3 km of pipes that will supply six standpipes. Tahani Mahamat Hassane poined out that the GTC Company has 10 months to build the drinking water supply.

Access to basic drinking water services in Chad is at 43% and to sanitation is at 10%.This is according to Joint Monitoring Programme. Less than one in two children has access to safe drinking water, while only one in ten has access to improved sanitation. In 2019, 61% of Chad’s population lacked access to basic water services. Many had to obtain drinking water from an improved source like a well or piped water.