RWB and IUCN partner towards addressing water quality monitoring in Rwanda
5th January 2022: The water monitoring experts from the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) were trained on the use of water quality monitoring equipment from 28th to 30th December 2022.
RWB acquired this equipment through the Technical Assistance (TA) offered by the International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN) to the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Programme supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
“This will help RWB to perform field measurements for different water pollution parameters such as physical-chemical indicators, heavy metals, and priority substances biological parameters for both surface and groundwater” explained Remy Norbert Duhuze, RWB’s Water Monitoring and Quality Control Division Manager.
BACKGROUND
In different areas of Rwanda, the water quality deteriorates due to different causes like urbanization, agriculture, mining, as well as non-point source pollution.
This has been an important issue for the country to improve the monitoring system both for the quantitative management of limited water sources and qualitative management such as water pollution prevention.
Hence, the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) will carry out the water quality monitoring campaign that will facilitate to elaborate the Annual Status Report that will be availed to the public through Rwanda Water Portal.
This campaign will also result into overcoming the challenges related he water quality monitoring issues. With to aim to improve the country’s water quality, the water quality monitoring system needs to be strengthened through regular water quality monitoring in identified sampling sites.
RWB has initially collaborated with IUCN to seek the service provider to collect and analyse water samples from 50 sampling sites spread on Rwandan water bodies selected in relation to the existing water quality monitoring network and national water resources management master plan.