On the outskirts of the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, a few public water tanks have been set up on the streets, but there are not enough to meet the needs of all residents.
To the south-east of Nouakchott, the Tahrir district faces a persistent and worrying problem: the lack of drinking water. Built some fifteen years ago to counteract the uncontrolled development of the Mauritanian capital, Tahrir suffers from a poorly planned water supply, leaving many residents without access to this essential resource.
A non-existent water network
The Tahrir district has faced infrastructure challenges since its inception. Although efforts have been made to install water pipes, they often remain dry and some homes are not even connected to the network. As one resident explains: A few years ago, someone came to install pipes, but they remained empty. To this day we have no running water.
Insufficient temporary solutions
To make up for this shortfall, the authorities have set up reservoirs supplied by tankers. However, this system is far from sufficient to meet the needs of the population. Many have to rely on water carriers, either motorised or using carts to carry jerry cans. Another resident explains: I don’t have a tap at home, so I always have to pay someone to bring water.
A situation made worse by the bad weather
The already critical situation has worsened since last August. The rainy season has caused silt to build up in the pipe network, leading to water shortages throughout Nouakchott. The capital relies mainly on water sources located almost 200 kilometres to the south, on the Senegal River, making the supply even more complex.
