Congo: Ongoing drinking water shortages in Brazzaville May 22

Event

Water outages have reached critical levels in the capital Brazzaville. Several neighborhoods, including Mfilou and Moungali,  have no access to potable water as of May 22 due to ongoing issues at the National Water Supply Company (Société nationale de distribution d’eau; SNDE). Prime Minister Clement Mouamba has acknowledged the need for reform within SNDE but has yet to announce specific measures to address the chronic water shortage problems.

Context

The Water For All (Eau pour tous) program, which has cost some USD 333 million (CFA 194 billion) to date, has yet to reach its goals of significantly increasing potable water access in the country, particularly in parts of rural Congo where less than 15 percent of the population has readily available drinking water.

Advice

Individuals are advised to stock up on bottled water and to collect water in large vessels when running water is available; make sure the water is completely clear before collecting it by running taps for a few minutes to flush pipes. Strict food and water precautions are advised, such as boiling, filtering, and/or chemically treating water before consumption.