New facilities are expected to improve the supply of drinking water and sanitation in Mauritania. The Mauritanian Minister of Economic Affairs and Promotion of Productive Sectors has just signed a financing agreement for this key sector. The 14 million euro loan is granted by France, through the French Development Agency (AFD) which is providing 12 million euros. According to the French embassy in Mauritania, the funds will be used to finance projects in the Adrar and Tagant regions.
The nature of the drinking water supply works planned in the two regions is not yet known. However, the priorities chosen by the Mauritanian government are, among others, the exploitation of underground resources, the exploitation and control of surface water, and better governance.
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Thus, French funding should strengthen the supply of drinking water to 77,000 people in the Adrar and Tagant regions. Concerning the “sanitation” component, a non-collective system will be set up in Adrar. It should benefit 30,000 people. By 2030, the East African country aims to achieve universal access to drinking water and sanitation.
At the end of 2019, Mauritania’s daily drinking water needs were estimated by the authorities at around 100,000 m3 per day, for a daily production of around 55,000 m3 per day. The country only supplies its populations from one source, the Trarza aquifer in the east.
Inès Magoum