Prime Minister Ramgoolam chairs a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Emergency Water Situation

The Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, chaired a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Emergency Water Situation, on Thursday 22 October 2026, to evaluate Mauritius' current water supply situation and align relief efforts to address challenges.

Representatives of relevant Ministries, the Central Water Authority (CWA), the Water Resources Commission and the Central Electricity Board participated in the discussions. The Committee evaluated the water supply situation and reviewed measures being taken by the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities and the CWA to mitigate shortages and optimise distribution nationwide.

The Committee took note of the series of priority measures that had been taken to improve the availability of water in the Upper Plaine-Wilhems region, allowing water distribution on alternate days, region-wise, namely: the use of 14 additional boreholes owned by Government as well as private entities; the installation of mobile containerised pressure filters and direct abstraction of water from rivers; and the provision of water tankers to assist residents affected by supply disruptions.

Other key measures were discussed. They included the installation of 10 reservoirs of 30,000L in different localities, the recruitment of 70 personnel by the CWA and the extension of the Water Tank and Water Pump Grant Scheme under the Development Bank of Mauritius to all households that are not already equipped with water tanks.

Moreover, the Committee took into account that with the installation of a pump at Mare Longue Reservoir, some 10,000 m3 of water will be supplied to La Marie Water Treatment Plant as from next week. Medium term measures were also acknowledged. They comprised the laying of a twin pipeline from Tamarind falls reservoir to La Marie Water Treatment Plant for additional inflow of around 20,000 m3 and the laying of an additional pipeline from Mare Longue Reservoir to La Marie Water Treatment Plant with a view to increasing the outflow from Mare Longue Reservoir by an additional 12,000 m3.

Besides, the progress of long-term initiatives to improve water availability in the country was reviewed by the Committee. This included the improvement to the water infrastructure by the implementation of the pipe replacement programme; the conduct of a feasibility study for the setting up of a desalination plant; and the implementation of additional wastewater recycling projects by the Wastewater Management Authority.

It is to be noted that Government is currently strengthening its response to the water supply emergency by prioritising urgent interventions, improving the management of available water resources, and strengthening coordination among the relevant Ministries and Authorities given the declining reservoir levels.

26 October 2026

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Topics: Water Resources

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