The La Marie water treatment plant in Mauritius has increased its production to approximately 70,000 cubic meters per day, according to a government update on October 30. This is a significant improvement from the 46,000 cubic meters per day recorded during the peak of the water shortage. However, it is still far from the normal production capacity of around 110,000 cubic meters per day. The government attributes the increase to new drilling operations and pumping from Mare-Longue.
The authorities have mobilized several drilling operations with the support of the private sector, which are now providing around 26,000 cubic meters per day to the Mare-aux-Vacoas region. The government has announced that a new phase will begin on Sunday, which involves electrifying the Mare-Longue facility. This will enable continuous pumping, rather than alternating between two generators, and increase the transfer of water to La Marie to nearly 30,000 cubic meters per day.
Despite the increase in production, the situation remains challenging. The water supply depends on various factors, including the functioning of the drilling operations, water quality, treatment capacity, network losses, and demand. Even if the production target is met, the overall water supply will not automatically return to normal levels. The government is working to address these challenges and improve the water supply situation.
The water storage situation remains tense, with the average storage level of the main reservoirs standing at 51.6% as of October 29. The Mare-aux-Vacoas reservoir was only 33.9% full. The government has launched a program to support households with water tanks and pumps, with 38,105 applications received so far. Of these, 22,578 investigations have been completed, and 9,267 eligible cases have been submitted to the Development Bank of Mauritius.
The government has also issued 4,664 coupons to support households in need. The program aims to alleviate the water shortage and provide relief to affected communities. However, the next challenge will be to verify the continuous functioning of the pumping system and measure the actual improvement in water distribution schedules.
The La Marie water treatment plant's increased production is a positive step towards addressing the water shortage in Mauritius. However, the government still faces significant challenges in restoring the water supply to normal levels. The situation requires ongoing monitoring and efforts to ensure that the water supply improves and meets the demand.
The government's efforts to address the water shortage include both short-term and long-term measures. The drilling operations and pumping from Mare-Longue are providing temporary relief, while the electrification of the Mare-Longue facility and other infrastructure upgrades will have a more lasting impact. The government will continue to work to improve the water supply situation and provide support to affected communities.
Key points
- The La Marie water treatment plant has increased production to 70,000 cubic meters per day.
- The production is still short of the normal capacity of 110,000 cubic meters per day.
- The government has launched a program to support households with water tanks and pumps.
