Addis Ababa reports water shortages

07 Nov, 2011

The city of Addis Ababa is experiencing acute water shortages at its wells in recent weeks, with power shortages and the end of the rainy season believed to be the cause.

Districts such as Meketeya, Kechene, Shiro-Meda, Asko, Ankorcha, Kidane-Mihiret and Shegole have reported that drinking wells are drying up.

Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage authority said that ten bore wells around the city currently require the installation of new high-powered water pumps as the existing ones have been damaged by a lack of water.

Within two months 15 new wells are to be installed in Akaki, south of Addis Ababa, which are expected to provide an extra 73,000 cubic metres of water for the capital.

The average bore hole well pumps 60 litres of water per second and is the main source of water for the residents of Addis Ababa.