Disruptions Affect Both the City Center and Outlying Areas

The water crisis continues to weigh heavily on the daily lives of Antananarivo residents. For several weeks, many neighborhoods in the Malagasy capital have been experiencing repeated outages and a significant drop in the drinking water supply. Faced with this situation, Jirama, the national water and electricity company, is trying to reassure the population while acknowledging the scale of the difficulties.

According to several local media outlets, the disruptions affect both the city center and outlying areas. In some areas, residents have to wait until nightfall to fill a few jerrycans, while others go several days without a regular supply. This shortage is affecting households, schools, businesses, and healthcare facilities.

The main cause cited is insufficient water production in relation to the capital’s rapid population growth. Antananarivo has been experiencing rapid urbanization for several years, which is putting considerable pressure on existing infrastructure. Jirama estimates that the daily water deficit reaches tens of thousands of cubic meters. This is compounded by aging infrastructure, leaks in the distribution network, and frequent technical breakdowns.

Energy difficulties are also exacerbating the situation. Power outages disrupt the operation of pumping stations and water treatment plants. Lake Mandroseza, the capital’s main water source, is also suffering from progressive siltation, which reduces its storage capacity. For several years, experts have been warning about the consequences of erosion and human activity around the Ikopa watershed.

To address the emergency, the authorities have announced several improvement projects. Rehabilitation work on the pipelines, the installation of new pumps, and the expansion of treatment plants are currently underway. Jirama also states its intention to strengthen distribution through new wells and more modern equipment. Several infrastructures were reportedly rehabilitated between 2025 and 2026.

Despite these announcements, the population remains worried. Many denounce the temporary solutions as insufficient in the face of a crisis that has become recurrent. With the arrival of the dry season, the issue of access to drinking water is likely to worsen in the Malagasy capital, where water has become an increasingly precious resource.