The Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), in collaboration with UNICEF, has conducted a comprehensive geophysical survey in Burera District to enhance groundwater mapping, alongside optimized borehole siting in Nyagatare and Gatsibo Districts.

This effort lays in the RWB’s effort to enhance groundwater mapping and improve access to sustainable and well managed water sources.

These surveys build upon the previous studies such as the 2019 Groundwater Recharge and Storage Enhancement in Eastern Province and the 2024 Groundwater Mapping in the Eastern Province and Amayaga Region. 

By the end of the 2024/2025 fiscal year, RWB collected resistivity data covering a total of 5 kilometers in Burera District to support ongoing groundwater mapping. In addition, borehole siting optimization was carried out in Nyagatare and Gatsibo Districts, targeting high-scarcity zones highlighted in red and yellow on the national water shortage maps.

These recent interventions built upon RWB’s earlier contributions to expanding groundwater mapping across the country. Prior to this phase, similar geophysical data collection had been undertaken in the districts of Nyabihu, Musanze, and Rubavu, where a total of 26.05 kilometers of resistivity survey lines were completed, 10.01 km in Nyabihu, 15.04 km in Musanze, and 1 km in Rubavu.

To date, sixteen districts have been surveyed, including Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza, Ngoma, Kirehe, Rwamagana, Bugesera, Kamonyi, Nyanza, Gisagara, Ruhango, Burera, Gicumbi, and Nyamasheke, along with additional coverage in Nyabihu and Musanze.

This work, which maps aquifers, refines groundwater data, and identifies sustainable water sources for communities, is set to expand to other districts.

Such initiatives underscore RWB’s strong commitment to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of Rwanda’s water resources in support of the country’s broader development goals.