Understanding Rwanda’s water users and uses
updated data on water is crucial in strengthening water governance processes in Rwanda
Irrigation is leading in consumptive water use in Rwanda, followed by domestic water use, and mining, industries, fish ponds and coffee washing stations. This is according to the report updating “Water Users and Uses Assessment in Rwanda”.
Consumptive water use is water removed from the supplies without return to a water resource system.
The consumptive water use for irrigation stands at 363 403 960 m3/year, representing 59.75 percent, domestic water use is 38.61 percent of the water use, followed by mining, industries, fish ponds and coffee washing stations with 0.79 percent, 0.53 percent, 0.17 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.
The agriculture sector contributes over 30 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Rwanda. Irrigation is one of the most efficient ways of improving agricultural production with up to about 15 percent. By 2020, about 48 500ha were irrigated and the government is targeting to expand this to 102 281ha by 2025 (RAB, 2020).
However, the hydropower water use was considered to be non-consumptive (water removed from the supplies can be used by other sectors) as there are only two hydropower (Nyabarongo I and Rukarara) where dams were constructed before power generations. For hydropower on Lakes there was no increase in surface area due to dam construction, therefore no additional evaporation as the result of hydropower construction.
The report was based on the existing water users and uses assessment conducted in 2017, data collected from relevant organizations, review of updated literature and existing data and field data collection conducted for some identified users.
The updated assessment was instituted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) under the project “Knowing water better: Towards fairer and more sustainable access to natural resources for greater food security” (KnoWat)” funded by the Government of Germany. The project aims to strengthen water governance processes in Rwanda for better preparedness and to ensure food security and adaptation to climate change, water scarcity and increased competition for water resources in an equitable and sustainable manner.
Water use and availability ratio
Water use and availability ratio was estimated and the country was found to have a ratio of 8.9 percent, while the Muvumba catchment was found to have a ratio of 33.7 percent followed by Akagera Upper catchment with a ratio of 16.3 percent. The ratio at Muvumba and Akagera Upper catchment is attributed to the presence of large-scale irrigation in those catchments.
“In Rwanda, the water demand - availability ratio is projected to increase in the future as the country continues to develop economically and as its population grows. Without consistent, comprehensive, and reliable water use data, appropriate planning for water resources management cannot be made. Maintaining accurate information and data on the amount of water used and the purposes of its use, is important for effective water resources management for achieving national targets, especially for water allocation,” said Vital Munyandinda, Water Permits Division Manager at Rwanda Water Resources Board.
In Rwanda, about half of the precipitation occurs in one quarter of the year. The western half of Rwanda receives an average of 1400mm, while the eastern half receives less than 1000 mm. In addition, critical wetlands and catchments have been converted into agricultural lands, leading to drying up of some wetlands.
Who are ‘water users’?
‘Water users’ as defined by the law, are those extracting water from either surface water sources or groundwater. Concerned water users include significant users such as mines, urban and rural water supply agencies, industrial plants, hydropower plants, commercial farms, large irrigation schemes, aquaculture cooperatives/companies, government facilities and public institutions not supplied by water service providers, as well as small users such as water users’ associations.
Water withdrawals
Water withdrawals, or water abstractions, are defined as freshwater taken from ground or surface water sources, either permanently or temporarily, and conveyed to a place of use.
The updated statistics put the current water withdrawal (without hydropower) at about 608 217 382 m3/year in 2019.
Based on the obtained results the highest abstractions were observed in hydropower, irrigation, and domestic water supply with 3,381.9 (84.76%), 363.4 (9.11%) and 234.8 (5.88%) million m3/year, respectively.
“Hydropower water use is 5.56 times of all other water use. Fortunately, the water use by this sector is available for use by other sector downstream. It is therefore essential to ensure that hydropower plants are sited strategically to avoid conflict with upstream water uses and also ensure the use of water downstream,” the report recommended.
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