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5 Phases to Save Rodrigues: Island Seeks Funding for Water Master Plan
Rodrigues Island, a Mauritian dependency, is urgently seeking international funding to tackle a severe water crisis and secure its food future. The local government has enlisted the Société du Canal de Provence (SCP) to help secure financing for major irrigation projects.
The island faces a critical water deficit, with a daily demand of 12,000 cubic metres (m³) far exceeding its daily production of 4,800 m³.
This gap is projected to widen to 20,000 m³ by 2040. Despite heavy rains, a lack of adequate retention structures means much of the precious water is lost, running off into the sea.
The Master Plan
A representative from SCP’s Réunion-based agency, Stéphane Carmona, recently completed a three-day mission to Rodrigues to assess the technical needs on the ground.
The findings will be used to develop a comprehensive Master Plan for irrigation, which SCP says is essential for sustainable and equitable water management.
The plan aims to address the island’s structural and climate-related water challenges, which are worsened by population growth and the effects of climate change.
A previous large-scale desalination project, launched in 2019, was deemed too costly for agricultural use, with its water being reserved primarily for domestic consumption.
Securing Food Autonomy
The new focus on irrigation is crucial for the island’s agricultural sector, which currently cultivates around 1,400 hectares and has the potential to expand to 5,000 hectares.
A lack of proper hydraulic infrastructure has long limited agricultural development, threatening the island’s goal of food autonomy. The Master Plan will therefore include:
- A territorial diagnosis: To analyse water demand and current farming practices.
- Identification of resources: To ensure water use is sustainable for long-term agriculture.
- Hydro-agricultural development plan: To integrate economic, social, and environmental impacts.
- A strategic governance tool: To guide land use planning, funding models, and economic benefits.
Phased Approach
The plan will be implemented in five distinct phases, which Mr. Carmona outlined as:
- Territorial diagnosis: A comprehensive analysis of agricultural practices and water demand.
- Water resource assessment: Evaluating current resources and creating future scenarios.
- Hydro-agricultural scenario study: Analysing potential solutions based on collected data.
- Master Plan creation: Structuring the overall project vision and prioritising key operations.
- Project design and monitoring: Focusing on the Anse Baleine dam project, which could begin early if funding is secured.
The last phase, the Anse Baleine dam, has already had a feasibility study and could move forward quickly once financing is in place.
It’s considered a priority project that will help secure water usage and improve the system’s resilience for the entire island.
Some rural areas currently rely on water trucks due to a lack of sufficient storage infrastructure.
Source: Le Mauricien
