Preparatory work for the construction of a new aqueduct in Cibitoke province in Burundi has been underway since last February.
This is a new phase of the project Water, source of life and development in Cibitoke , which sees the collaboration of the CEI (Italian Episcopal Conference).
The drinking water distribution network along the route from Rubirizi to Rukana will be just over twenty-one kilometers long and will allow 800 families – or over 4,000 people from the municipalities of Rugombo and Mugina – to have access to drinking water for the first time in the history of this land.
A difficult path
In recent weeks, the project coordination team and the team of technicians employed in the works, have carried out an inspection, retracing the route of the future aqueduct. The aim was to update the information with respect to the technical study dating back to three years ago – 2022 – so as to have more precise and current information to proceed with the construction. 
In Cibitoke province, even a simple survey is not easy. Technicians and coordinators walked for seven hours , there and back, crossing slippery and rough terrain on the hills of Rushimabarimyi, Rubirizi and Musenyi until they reached the main spring that will feed the aqueduct network.
In particular, it was a matter of verifying that the water flow was still sufficient – compared to that verified in 2022 – and that there were no significant changes to take into consideration to remodel the project.
Updated data for the construction of the aqueduct
Based on the new data collected through this inspection, Engineer Niyongabo Henri , author of the technical study, then presented the study update.
This was also an important moment of exchange and sharing, because the interested parties formulated some recommendations and then validated the new technical study: there are no contraindications to proceed with the construction.
Step by step, with the involvement of local communities, the dream of drinking water becomes more and more achievable and concrete.
