"Chinese friends have alleviated our drinking water problem" (co creating a new era of prosperity and development) Water supply | Tulia | Drinking water
In the evening, the streets of Tuliara in southwestern Madagascar became busy. As dinner time approached, it was the peak season for water usage. Local residents were queuing up in front of pink and white water supply houses, carrying buckets of all sizes.
In a water supply house on Ankda Street, 35 year old Ula is holding a young child and helping residents who come to fetch water maintain order. At the end of last year, Ula contracted for this water supply house and told reporters that she not only no longer had to travel long distances to fetch water, but also earned an additional income of 100000 Ariari per month. Next to the water supply room, Ula also set up a vegetable stall. "When people come to fetch water and buy some vegetables, they see that life is getting better and better!"
Tuliara is an important port city in Madagascar, with rapid growth in urban size and population in recent years. The existing water supply system in the city is no longer able to meet the water needs of the local people. In March 2021, China Railway 18th Bureau Group Co., Ltd. initiated the construction of a water supply project in Tuliara City. The project will lay a total of 57 kilometers of water supply pipelines in the urban and suburban areas, distribute tap water to the entire city, build 200 centralized water supply houses, and cover 75000 beneficiaries. The project was completed in February this year, solving the problem of long and difficult water intake for 60 villages distributed around Tuliara city.
Ula introduced that the nearest water intake point to home was several kilometers away, and the water supply facilities were not perfect, with a small water flow rate. It would take a lot of time to fetch water once. As a mother of three children, she is busy taking care of the family and has no time to spend a few hours fetching water. Several neighbors with similar troubles hired a human powered tricycle specifically to pull water, which was a considerable expense.
Local resident Soclaudi joined the water collection team carrying two yellow buckets. "Before the water supply project was completed, there were no water supply facilities around my house, so I had to walk 6 kilometers to a well to fetch water." Sokraudi recalled that the well water was salty and bitter, and children often had stomach problems, causing many adults to get sick. "Nowadays, not only is it convenient to fetch water, but the water is also much better to drink."
It takes almost an hour to reach a small island by taking a fast boat from the port in the city of Tuliara. China Railway 18th Bureau Group Madagascar Company has installed two sets of seawater desalination equipment here, benefiting nearly 20000 people in the towns of Anakao and Solara on the island. According to Fitson, the village chief of Solara Village in Solara Town, the taste of the well water on the island is similar to that of seawater, which greatly affects the drinking water of the villagers. "It's completely different now," said Fitson. The seawater desalination equipment that was just put into use this year, equipped with solar power generation facilities, has greatly improved the drinking water conditions for tens of thousands of residents. He still remembers the day when the water supply system was put into trial operation, and all the villagers were celebrating excitedly: "From now on, we can always enjoy sweet and clear drinking water."
It is reported that during the installation, commissioning, and use of water supply pipelines and supporting facilities, Chinese staff provide training to local technical personnel on maintenance and troubleshooting, effectively ensuring the sustainable operation of water supply projects. Tuliara Mayor Vita stated that Tuliara is located near the sea and is a city lacking water. "Chinese friends have alleviated our drinking water problem, allowing us to drink 'sweet water'. Thank you very much for your help!"
