Rainwater Harvesting at a Village in Bugesera District

Location: Rweru Model Village, Bugesera District
Scale: Neighbourhood
Implementing organisation: Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA)
Average annual rainfall: 943 mm

Total volume of rainwater harvested: 61500 m2 (approx)
Area: 13300 m2
Operational since: 2016
Total Number of Houses: 104

In 2016, the Rweru model village was constructed in view to relocate 104 families of more than 400 people from from high-risk zones in the district's Mazane and Sharita Islands. Each of the family relocated in free houses areequipped with basic amenities includingrainwater harvesting facility (consisting of gutter, downspouts and storage tank). The rainwater is collected from rooftopsof the houses and is channelised into 64 individual (5 m3) and6 collective storage tanks (100 m3).

The total area of the model village is around 61500m2 with 13300 m2 roof area. The total number of houses is 104, out of which 64 houses has individual tank and rest of the houses drain’s runoff to6 collective tanks. For houses equipped with individual tanks, the rainwater falling on rooftop is conveyed directly to tank by gutter and downspouts.In case of collective tank,the rainwater from around 6 houses gets collected in a chamber with the help of gutter & downspouts and then conveyed to collective tank through the pipe.Since most of the tanksare not equipped with filter, therefore the stored rainwater is used for non-potable purpose such as washing and cleaning. The water fromWater and Sanitation Corporation Limited (WASAC)is used for potable use such as drinking and cooking.Due to high cost of filter, one collective tank is equipped with solar pump and carbon filter by Swedish company to maximize the quality and convenience.

The RWH system installed in each houses of the model villagehave augmented the water availability. The rainwater collected in tanks is used for non-potable purpose such as cleaning, washing, toilet flushing etc.

MININFRA
Rwanda