ICRC boosts Kinshasa water supply

At least four million people in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), now have access to a reliable water supply following the rehabilitation of eight water pumps, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced on Tuesday. In a statement, ICRC reported it initiated the US $2-million water pump rehabilitation projects at two locations northeast of Kinshasa. Four water pumps at the N'Djili spring catchments and four at the Kingabwa water works were restarted on 28 July in the presence of the Congolese vice-minister for energy, Kalema Lusona. "Safeguarding Kinshasa's water supply is a top priority, the N'Djili spring catchment supplies three-quarters of the population [of Kinshasa]," ICRC reported. The pumps were severely damaged by floodwaters in 1999 when the River Congo burst its banks. To avoid future similar damages, the ICRC ensured that the new pumps would not become blocked by sediment if flooding were to recur. Meanwhile, ICRC spokesman Patrick Mégevand told IRIN on Tuesday the organisation had recently finalised plans to rehabilitate the water distribution system in the eastern town of Kindu, the capital of Maniema Province. He said work would begin in September and that the project would benefit all the city's residents.