The Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (Chinalco) has established a water distribution point on the outskirts of the Kapongola mining area in Manono, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which offers free drinking water to surrounding villagers. The opening of the hub follows a geological exploration of water sources in the area aiming to address the long-standing water shortage issue for nearby villagers, and has earned high praise from the local government.
The Manono region is known for its complex geological formations. Local geologists had previously assessed that the area’s strata had “extremely low water-bearing potential,” making it seemingly impossible to drill wells for water extraction. Additionally, the area is far from urban centers, with no established municipal water supply system or centralized water sources. Villagers had relied on a tributary of the Luvua River, located two kilometers away, for drinking water. However, due to long-term contamination from humus in the soil and significant upstream pollution, dozens of people fall seriously ill each year from drinking the river water.
Determined to resolve the villagers’ water difficulties, Chinalco’s project team in the DRC organized a group of professional technicians to conduct a thorough hydrogeological survey of the mining area. Through precise planning, they successfully drilled a well that produces 120 cubic meters of water per day.
Following the successful well drilling, Chinalco promptly conducted water quality testing to ensure the safety of the water supply. Once confirmed, the company opened a water distribution point on the outskirts of their camp, offering free drinking water to the surrounding villagers
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
