Eswatini Infrastructure Project Set to Resolve Long-Term Water Scarcity

Launched by the government in March 2024 with backing from the African Development Bank Group, the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between basic supply and safely managed water. The infrastructure includes a treatment plant with a daily capacity of 25 million litres, supported by 21 million litres of reservoir storage and over 350 kilometres of distribution pipelines. Once fully operational later this year, the system will integrate 14 water kiosks and 20 public sanitation facilities directly into the affected communities.

This development aligns with Eswatini’s national mandate to achieve universal water and sanitation access by 2030. While over 80 percent of the population currently has basic service, less than 40 percent enjoys safely managed water. During a May 2026 supervision mission, residents emphasized that the project offers more than just utility; it removes the financial burden of purchasing tanker water and the physical toll of fetching water from distant rivers. The addition of prepaid meters and locally planned kiosks marks a shift toward sustainable resource management, directly improving health outcomes and daily living conditions for thousands.