District Thirsting for Answers

In Kalomo, some residents say they have gone months—and in some cases years—without reliable access to running water, despite continuing to receive monthly water bills. A MakanDay investigation by Voice of Kalomo Community Radio found that Kalomo's water system produces only 2,000 cubic metres of water per day against a demand of approximately 3,800 cubic metres—leaving a deficit of nearly 50%. As taps run dry, residents are waking up before sunrise to queue at communal hand pumps, drawing water from rivers, and relying on unsafe sources to meet their daily needs. For thousands of households, the search for water still begins long before dawn.