PROF. PASCAL NKURUNZIZA, BURUNDI UNIVERSITY, OLD NILE

BURUNDI’S WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE CONTEXT

OF THE NILE BASIN.

CONTENT

CONTEXT OF THE STUDY OBJECTIVS OF THE STUDY GEOGRAPHIE POSITION WATER RESOURCE SITUATION IN BURUNDI BURUNDI’S WATER RESOURCE IN THE

FRAMEWORK OF THE NILE BASIN WATER SUPPLY AND WATER DEMAND IN

BURUNDI CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPACT ON WATER

RESOURCE IN BURUNDI AND IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE NILE

SOME CONSIDERATIONS ON BURUNDI’S WATER MANAGEMENT ( IWRM)

CONTEXT OF THE STUDY

FRAMEWORK OF THE NILE BASIN RESEARCH PROGRAM COORDONATOR OF THE PROGRAM:

DR RUNNER NIELSENRESEARCH COORDONATOR : PROF.

TERJE TVEDT.

OBJECTIVS OF THE STUDY

Threats on the Nil RiverHydrology situationUtilizationImpact of climate changeBurundi and the Nil (KBO)

THREATS ON NIL RIVER

Only the Anglo-Belgian treaty (1934) retained the attention of independent Burundi. This treaty aimed to regulate the sharing of the Kagera river between the (British) Tanganyika Territory and (Belgian) Rwanda-Urundi.

This treaty stipulated that: ” The Water diverted from a part of the

watercourse situated wholly within either territory shall be returned without substantial reduction to its natural bed at some point before such water course flows into the other territory or at some point before such watercourse forms the common boundary.”

WATER RESOURCE IN BURUNDI

WATER RESOURCE IN BURUNDI

Lake Tanganyika : constitutes the biggest reserve of fresh water worldwide (18,90018,900 km3).

Lake Cohoha (59 sq km): 5 bcmLake Rweru (91 sq km) : 3.7 bcm.

WATER SUPPLY PER BASIN

NIL BASIN (Kagera S/B)

NIL BASIN (Ruvubu S/B)

CONGO BASIN (Rusizi & Tanganyika S/B)

CONGO BASIN ( Malagarazi S/B)

Kagera 3,155 Km2

912 bcm

Ruvubu 10,063 Km2

3,420 bcm

TOTAL NIL BASIN

13,218 Km2

4,532 bcm

Malagarazi

5262 Km2

1.607 bcm

Rusizi 2.684 Km2

1.672 bcm

Tanganyika

3.871 Km2

2.450 bcm

TOTAL CONGO BASIN

11.817 Km2

5.729 bcm

TOTAL RENEWABLE WATER PER YEAR: 10.061 bcm

PROJECTION OF DRINKWATER DEMAND AND WATER SUPPLY

With a population growth of 3%, the amount of drinking water needed in urban areas doubles every ten years. From 22 mcm in 1990, consumption reached 40 mcm in 2000 and is expected to reach 70 mcm in 2010. In rural areas, the growth rate of demand for drinking water is 58% every ten years. Demand increased from 170 mcm in 1990 to 293 mcm in the year 2000 and may reach 434 mcm in 2010.

PROJECTION OF DRINKWATER DEMAND AND WATER SUPPLY

EVOLUTION OF UNDRINKABLE WATER DEMAND PER SECTOR

EXPLOITATION OF MARSHES AREAS

Marshlands cover 120,000 ha, or 4.3% of the total surface of Burundi (lakes excluded). Marshes play an important role during the long dry season (July-September), as sponges that store water and retain fine mineral material eroded from surrounding hills.

What is the status of the marshes today? Rapid population growth (3%) has increased pressure on cultivable land, especially on marshland. Since 1990, marsh cultivation has increased from about 50% to almost 100%.

Marshes are very sensitive ecosystems. Water is almost at the same level with the surface and uncontrolled cultivation can generate incommensurable ecological imbalances. The outcome may be the total drying out of the marsh and the loss of cultivable land.

WATER AND HYDROENERGY

In 1994 the hydroelectric potential of Burundi was estimated at 1,371 MW. But in terms of technical feasibility, only 300 MW could be achievable.

In 1997 the installed capacity of electrical power was 43 MW, 32 of which came from hydroelectric dams, the rest from thermal power.

Hydroelectric production represents only 0.6% of the country’s power.

OTHER ENERGY SOURCES

Firewood and charcoal account for 95%. Consumption of charcoal is about 2.9 kg per

inhabitant per day. Exploitation of peat reserves, estimated at 100

million tons (with 57 million exploitable) might slow deforestation. At present only one company exploits peat, producing no more than 12,000 tons a year or a miniscule 0.04% of the energy consumed in Burundi. By comparison, imported oil products represent 2.5% of the total energy consumed.

BURUNDI AND THE NILE (KBO PROJECTS)

Burundi covers 6% of the total surface area of the Nile basin countries and represent 22% within the Kagera basin area.

75% of the Burundian marshlands are located in the Kagera basin. These represent an important reserve of water and help feed local populations through agriculture. The Ruvubu river contributes 2.6 mcm of water to the flow of the While Nile. Since we know that the White Nile represents 14% of the total water of the Nile (84 bcm), we have an idea of the importance of the Ruvubu. In fact, 22% of the average annual flow of the White Nile comes from Burundi.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS ON BURUNDI’S WATER MANAGEMENT

Résultat 9. Renforcement des capacités

Résultat 2. Cadre de participation des acteurs

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Résultat 4. Problèmes et défis de la ges-tion des RE

Résultat 5. Fonctions de gestion des RE

Résultat 6. Opportunités et contraintes

Résultat 7. Plan d’action GIRE élaboré Résultat 8. Plan d’action GIRE adopté

Processus de planification de GIRE pro-prement dit

Résultat 10. Portefeuille de projets et plan de financement

Résultat 3. Connaissance de l’existant

Objectif national de

planification de la GIRE

CONCLUSION

Burundi is not running short of water, what Burundi lacks are the technology and expertise to meet the needs of its population for drinkable water, irrigation, and hydroelectric production.

Burundi need to cooperate with all Nil basin countries in particular in Energy production and in protection of the Environment.

To manage its water, Burundi have to apply the IWRM in its all components (Legal, institutional and technical organisation).

The research must be a priority to go forward in this water resource management.

THANK YOUFOR YOUR ATTENTION