Investing in water infrastructure and wastewaster management

As regards the Water Tank Scheme provisions is being made for the following:

·         investing Rs 300 million over the next 3 years to reach out to an additional 37,500 households;

·         raising the income eligibility threshold from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000

·         grant of Rs 8,000 instead of Rs 5,000 to also cover the purchase of a water pump.

A total of Rs 530 million is also injected for several other water projects to ensure that there is adequate supply of water to meet rising demand in the future. They are: rehabilitation of La Ferme Dam; Bagatelle Water Treatment Plant and Associated Works; Service reservoirs at Cluny, Riche en Eau, Riviere Dragon, Eau Bouillie, Salazie and Montagne Fayence; supply, installation & commissioning of additional containerised Pressure Filtration Plants; and  Cold Potable Water Meters

The long term goals are to mobilise 30 Mm3 additional water resources by 2020, and 115 Mm3 by 2030; reduce water losses (non-revenue water) from 55 percent in 2018 to 50 percent in 2020, and to 37 percent by 2030;

Wastewater Management

Wastewater is another major concern that must be effectively managed at all times. On-site sanitation systems are gradually being replaced by sewerage networks. As at March 2019, 91,940 households are connected to public sewer network, about 755 km of sewer lines of 200 mm diameter are in operation and some 138,000 m3 of wastewater is being treated on a daily basis at Wastewater Management Authority (WMA) Treatment Plants. Government aims at increasing the proportion of premises connected to the sewerage infrastructure from 27 percent in 2018 to 30 percent in 2020 and to 50 percent in 2030.

To better serve that purpose, the Budget is providing Rs 4 billion for implementation of several projects over the next three years. They include: construction of sewerage facilities at Grand Baie, Pailles, Camp Rouillard, Morcellement Goolamally and St Paul, and preparation of the sewerage networks at Bain des Dames and Vallée des Prêtres.