Customer: The World Bank
Project Date: 2010
The rain falls heavily on Mauritius, and it falls in great quantities. In spite of this, there is a shortage of water in some seasons and in certain locations on the island. In the spring of 2010, the Mauritius authorities asked NIRAS International Consulting to help find a solution to this problem.
The challenge is that the rain falls very unevenly across the island, and that the island is beginning to see a decrease in rainfall in general. This is a result of climate changes and of an increase in the population and the number of tourists as well as the growing water consumption for the large sugar cane plantations.
The solution will be to introduce a modern foundation for water resources management on Mauritius. Firstly, it is necessary to secure the infrastructure in the form of dams, reservoirs, canals etc.. Secondly, the legal framework and regulations for water catchment for industry and irrigation purposes in particular need to be modernised. The same applies for the guidelines for water sector management, which requires a clear distinction between the management of the water resources and the actual distribution and supply of water. An important element is the improvement of quality control, which must ensure that the water has the required degree of purity.
NIRAS' master plan does not provide more water, but it enables the authorities to lead the water to where it is needed by the population, industry, plantations and the many tourists. Mauritius has a population of 1.2 million and covers almost 2,000 square kilometres of scenic beauty.