Case study - improving water supplies in Mozambique
Mozambique is a developing country in East Africa. The rainy season falls between October and May, with most rain falling from November until April. The north of the country receives more rainfall than the south.
It is estimated that over half of Mozambique’s population (14.8 million people) don’t have access to clean water. Diseases, such as diarrhoea, that are caused by drinking unclean water are common. Water is short and, on occasions, the authorities have even resorted to turning off taps every other day and banning irrigation.
The World Bank is helping Mozambique to strengthen its water supplies. The project involves the completion of the Corumana dam in the south of the country. The construction of the dam first began in 1983. However, ongoing conflict and limited funding meant that the project was never completed.
The dam will help to secure water supplies in the region. It will collect rain that falls during the rainy season and store it so that it can be used in the dry season. This will mean that there is a greater supply of safe drinking water and that more farmland can be irrigated, improving crop yields. In addition to safe water, the dam will be used to generate electricity for the area.