How is the monitoring of water quality done in Mauritius

The National Environmental Laboratory of the Department of Environment in collaboration with

other laboratories (Ministry of Fisheries, Waste Water Management Authority, Central Water
Authority) perform regular monitoring of inland and coastal water quality around the island. The
monitoring are such:

• physical characteristics – e.g. temperature, colour, light, sediment suspended in the

water
• chemical characteristics – e.g. dissolved oxygen, acidity (pH), salinity, nutrients and
other contaminants
• Biological characteristics – e.g. bacteria and algae.

DISTRIBUTION OF POTABLE WATER IN MAURITIUS

Rainwater can be used for both non-potable (irrigation, toilet flushing, and laundry) or
for potable uses (drinking, showering, and cooking). The treatment required for potable
uses differs from that required for non-potable use. Rainwater is considered a surface
water and thus shares technical and regulatory issues with other surface water sources
such as ponds and rivers.
Water resources in Mauritius

The main source of water supply is ground water (54%) – abstracted through 112 boreholes.
The balance (46%) is derived from surface sources – impounding reservoirs and river in takes.
25 major catchment areas

Water resources

• 22 minor river basins

• 107 flow measuring station
• 350 river-run off takes
• 3 major river abstractions
• 6 major impounding reservoirs total capacity = 77.4 𝑚𝑚3 annual yield = 137
𝑚𝑚3
About 53% of the water supplied to the population comes from boreholes and the
remaining from surface water and river abstractions. The CWA supplies water through a
water network of about 4500 KMs of pipes. 31% of these pipes are made of asbestos
cement and 7% of cast iron. They are over 100 years old and therefore, they are prone to
leakages and bursts. These water pipes require heavy maintenance and it must be carried
out on a phased basis over the medium term. Thus, in 2015, Government decided to
support the Central Water Authority massively for the replacement of water pipes and
rehabilitation of other infrastructure.

Since 2015, Government has provided outright grants totaling Rs 4.4 Billion to CWA for pipe
replacement. An additional Rs 1.5 Billion has been allocated for this financial year and the
subsequent two years.
The funding is based on CWA’s list of priority projects to facilitate the distribution of water
throughout the island, which include -
(i) replacement of old water pipes;
(ii) construction of service reservoirs;
(iii) increasing water treatment capacity;
(iv) identifying new sources of water supply through drilling of boreholes;
(v) extracting water from rivers and installation of filtration plants, and (vi)
Upgrading of pumping stations.

From 2015, CWA has built three service reservoirs at Mont Blanc, Rivière du Rempart and
Balisson. Two other service reservoirs are under construction at Montagne Fayence and
Rivière Dragon. Bids for three others at Cluny, Eau Bouillie and Salazie will soon be
launched.

During period 2015 to 2019, eight new boreholes have been drilled, out of which 5 have been
commissioned at Plaine Magnien, Mon Desert Mon Tresor, Upper Beaux Songes, Bonne

Mère, and Côte D’Or, bringing additional water resources. Three others are being drilled at
Quartier Militaire, Nouvelle France and Petit Bois, Caroline.
Distribution of water regionally

Plaine Lauzun pumping station is used to pump water from Pailles treatment plant to
supply the regions of Carreau Lalo, Ste Croix, Roche Bois, Cité Martial, Camp Yoloff,
Vallée Pitot and Tranquebar. As the pumping station had limited capacity, Government
provided a grant of
Rs 79 million to CWA to build a new pumping station, which became operational in
November 2018, ensuring water supply at higher pressure.
The installation of water pipes to connect Bagatelle Water Treatment plant to Soreze for
water distribution to Port Louis has been completed. Another pipeline to connect the
treatment plant to Belle Rose in order to supply Beau Bassin/Rose Hill and part of Quatre
Bornes regions is almost completed. Pipe laying works on crossing the M1 Motorway will
be completed this month. The treatment plant will supply treated water from Bagatelle
Dam as from midSeptember 2019.
With the coming into operation of the treatment plant and the completion of the pipelines, water
supply in Rose Hill, Beau Bassin, Quatre Bornes and Port Louis will be on a 24-hour basis. In
addition, water from Mare aux Vacoas channelled through La Marie treatment plant currently
supplied to these regions, will then be channeled to the western regions from Tamarin to Le
Morne and increase hours of supply in these regions.

In the South, pipes have been replaced from Plaine Magnien to Mare d’Albert, at Surinam,
Rivière des Anguilles and South West coast, Rose Belle, Riche en Eau, Ferney, Grand Bel
Air and Ville Noire and a new service reservoir built at Balisson.

In addition, as water tanks provide storage capacity and enable consumers to benefit from
24- hour supply, this Government has consistently expanded the scheme in order to reach
out to more households. In 2015, Government increased the water tank grant from Rs3000
to Rs5000 and the income ceiling from Rs15 000 to Rs25 000. In 2018, it further increased
the income ceiling to Rs30 000 and this year it has been increased to Rs50 000.

Since 2015, 32,809 households have benefited from water tank grants at a cost of Rs115 m.
All these measures have led to a substantial improvement in the hours of supply.

There are now 201 860 consumers who obtain 24 hours water supply. After coming to
operation, the Bagatelle Water Treatment plant has increase to more than 302,000 consumers.
This is out of a total number of some 375,000 consumers.