In Summary The move comes as the country seeks to tap into aquifers to meet demand for water.
Limited data on the country’s ground water resources has been cited as one of the barriers hindering irrigation schemes to maximise agricultural production.
The Rwandan government is hiring a consulting firm to help in gathering data on ground water reserves in the drought-prone Eastern Province.
This comes as the country seeks to tap into aquifers to meet demand for water.
According to Water for Growth Rwanda, a joint initiative between the government and the Netherlands, the study will run for six months from February to July.
It will involve a detailed study on aquifer types in selected areas in Eastern province.
The areas are Nyagatare-Gatsibo, Kayonza, Rwamagana, Ngoma, Kirehe, and Bugesera, which are the six districts most affected by recurrent drought.
Potential aquifers The advertised tender shows the study will assess the availability of ground water, depth of potential aquifers, possible yields and water quality in addition to recommending the optimum sites for long-term production boreholes.
Official data shows water coverage rate for the Eastern Province stands at 52 per cent, far below the country’s average of 75 to 80 per cent for rural areas.
A FAO-led team of experts, who have been mapping Rwanda’s regions, said it was difficult to determine the risks of drilling due to lack of data on depths and volume of groundwater reserves.