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# [MAURITIUS] Water Crisis: Reservoirs at 56.8% as Government Launches 10-Point Emergency Plan
- URL: https://businessoi.media/en/maurice-stress-hydrique-les-reservoirs-a-56-8-et-un-plan-durgence-en-dix-mesures-en/
- Published: 2026-10-22T13:45:07.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-22T13:45:07.000Z
- Description: Mauritius reservoirs at 56.8%, Mare-aux-Vacoas at just 35.5%: the Council of Ministers has launched a 10-point emergency plan, from new boreholes to household grants. Experts warn of a total supply failure within two months.
- Author: Emmanuel TAOCHY
- Tags: Maurice, Économie, Finances publiques, Clôture, #en

**Mauritius's seven main reservoirs were just 56.8% full at the start of October — compared to 87% at the same time in 2025\. With experts warning of a potential total disruption within two months, the Council of Ministers has adopted a ten-point emergency plan.**

## Record Low at Mare-aux-Vacoas

The island's largest reservoir, Mare-aux-Vacoas, has dropped to only 35.5% of its capacity. Of its roughly 26 million m³ potential, only 9.19 million m³ remain — a loss of 13.51 million m³ over twelve months. As a result, daily flow to the La Marie treatment station has plummeted from 110,000 m³ to between 56,000 and 61,000 m³ — a drop of more than 40%. Across all seven reservoirs (total capacity: 92.2 million m³), just 52.37 million m³ were available as of 10 October, according to the Central Water Authority (CWA). Per capita consumption is estimated at around 190 litres per day.

## A Government Plan in Ten Steps

The Council of Ministers has ordered nine new boreholes to inject an additional 30,000 m³ per day into the Mare-aux-Vacoas catchment by end of October. The Mare-Longue–La Marie pipeline capacity will be doubled from 15,000 to 30,000 m³/day. Around 4,000 m³ will be drawn daily from the Pétrin and Papayes rivers. Fifteen pressure filters ordered by the CWA are expected by late November.

Households will benefit from extended grants: Rs 10,000 for two tanks, Rs 4,000 for a pump, and up to Rs 1,000 for connection works. Private tanker trucks and liaison agents have been deployed in the worst-affected areas. P. M. K. Soonarane has been appointed Director General of Public Utilities on contract to oversee the entire programme.

## Social Tension Spills Over

The crisis is no longer just an engineering problem. In Phoenix, residents have been blocking roads and burning tyres for several days; unrest has spread to Camp-Levieux. Historian Jocelyn Chan Low links the protests to rising living costs and fuel prices, noting that «there are limits to communication». Engineer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo has warned that a total supply failure is «a possible scenario within two months» if rainfall does not return.

## Why It Matters

Mauritius relies on its reservoirs to supply water to nearly 1.3 million people as well as its tourism and sugar industries. Severe rationing would directly hit hotels — a sector worth around 20% of GDP — and damage the island's reputation as a premium Indian Ocean destination. A long-term decline in rainfall (estimated at 57 mm per decade by specialists) combined with ageing infrastructure, some dating back to the 19th century, make this both an immediate emergency and a structural challenge.

*Sources: L'Express Maurice / Allafrica (October 2026); Council of Ministers, Mauritius.*