Pulcherie Mbeng Mengue opens a water tap in Nzeng-Ayong, a northern district of Libreville, the capital of Gabon. This is a special moment for her. "For the first time in years, water flows!" she exclaims.
Like many in the community, Pulcherie has endured irregular water supply.
"Getting up at two or three in the morning to see if there are drops coming from the tap... And then one morning, to finally see water: it's something worth celebrating!"
Across Libreville, ageing distribution pipes led to frequent leaks, causing shortages of drinking water. Residents had to buy water from local vendors, and store it in containers, exposing children to skin infections and other ailments.
The Libreville Integrated Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (PIAEPAL in the French acronym), supported by 117 million euros in financing from the African Development Bank Group, was launched to address the challenge. In partnership with the government of the Republic of Gabon, PIAEPAL aimed to provide regular access to water for 850,000 people, including 300,000 new users who were not previously served.
The project laid 311 kilometres of new pipes to ensure constant water pressure even in the most remote and high-altitude areas. Four new water towers and a pumping station, connected to a 10,000 m³ reservoir, now supply the northern districts of Libreville: Nzeng-Ayong, Ondogo, Charbonnages, Alibandeng, Bel-Air, Okala and Angondjé. By improving pumping mechanisms and increasing storage capacity, the project ensures sustainable supply of water for future generations, strengthening the capital's resilience in the face of climate change.
"Since 2011, we had almost no water from the tap," says a delighted Anelka Koumba, a university student. "Now the water has been flowing for two to three weeks. It makes such a difference!"
Gervais Nguema Mba, the PIAEPAL coordinator, says:
"Since the station started working, residents have an uninterrupted supply of water. We've not only built infrastructure, we've also provided structural solutions to solve Libreville's water supply problems. Each new pipeline increases access to water for homes, schools and businesses."
Grace Ndong Dough, a civil engineering technician, worked for more than two years on construction of the new pumping station, and is very pleased with the impact on the local people: "Seeing the water arrive in taps is a total satisfaction," she says.
PIAEPAL has truly transformed the daily lives and livelihoods of residents; from traders in the markets of Nkembo and Glass, who now have water for use in their stalls, to schools providing better hygiene conditions for children, and families now able to save money previously spent buying water.
Hundreds of kilometres of new pipes supported by modern technology have brought a new reality to Libreville: water is back in homes and, with it, the promise of a better life for the city's people.
