Rwanda to double its daily water supply capacity under NST2
Following the completion of the first phase of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), the Government of Rwanda has embarked on implementing NST2, an ambitious development roadmap that aims to significantly improve access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. Scheduled to run until 2029, the strategy targets a major scale-up in daily water supply and aims to reach one million new households with clean water.
On Monday, May 12, 2025, Minister of Infrastructure Dr. Jimmy Gasore announced that by the end of NST2, Rwanda will have the capacity to supply 668,000 cubic meters of water per day—up from 343,000 cubic meters supplied daily in the 2023/2024 fiscal year.
He made the remarks while appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on National Budget and Patrimony, during discussions on the 2024/2025 budget review and projections for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
“Our goal is to double the amount of water we supply daily. We currently provide 343,000 cubic meters, but ongoing projects will help us reach 668,000 by 2029,” Dr. Gasore told the lawmakers.
In addition to increasing supply, NST2 aims to provide clean water to one million new households. Current figures from the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) show that only 18% of households have access to clean water from a reliable distribution network. The target for the 2025/26 fiscal year is to connect 500,000 new households to clean water.
“This means that within the next four years, over 50% of households will have access to safe drinking water. That is a significant step toward improving the well-being of our citizens,” Dr. Gasore added.
To further improve water service delivery, MININFRA plans to construct 665 kilometers of new water pipelines by 2026. Additionally, the ministry will rehabilitate damaged or non-functional infrastructure, including 162 kilometers of rural pipelines and another 432 kilometers before NST2 concludes.
By the end of NST2, Rwanda is expected to have a total of 4,600 kilometers of functional water pipelines. This is anticipated to greatly reduce the time and physical burden people—especially those in rural areas—spend fetching water.
Key Targets and Expected Impacts:
- Increase daily water supply from 343,000 m³ to 668,000 m³
- Connect 1 million new households to clean water
- Build 665 km of new water infrastructure
- Rehabilitate 432 km of damaged pipelines
- Achieve a total of 4,600 km of operational water pipelines
These initiatives are part of Rwanda’s long-term vision to improve the quality of life for its citizens and achieve sustainable development through access to clean water, hygiene, and public health. NST2 reflects the country’s continued progress toward the Rwanda We Want by 2050.
