Mauritius Expands Free Water Tank Grant to All Unequipped Homes

Mauritius is expanding its Water Tank and Water Pump Grant Scheme to cover all households that do not yet have water storage equipment, as the island faces a serious water supply crisis heading into the summer months. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting after ministers were briefed on the alarming state of the country's reservoirs. As of 8 October 2026, overall storage levels across major reservoirs stood at just 57.1% — down sharply from 87.4% at the same point in 2025. The situation is most acute at Mare aux Vacoas, Mauritius's largest and most important reservoir, located in the Plaines Wilhems district in the centre of the island, where the level has fallen to just 35.7%. The Cabinet also formally acknowledged a water supply emergency in the Hautes-Plaines-Wilhems region — the densely populated central plateau area that includes towns such as Curepipe, Vacoas, Phoenix, and Quatre Bornes. A crisis committee, chaired by the Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, has convened to fast-track emergency measures. **What the grant scheme covers** The subsidy programme is administered by the Development Bank of Mauritius (DBM) and provides qualifying households with: - **Two water storage tanks**, including one of 1,000-litre capacity, subsidised at **Rs 10,000** - **One water pump**, subsidised at **Rs 4,000** - **Fittings and connectors**, covered up to **Rs 1,000** The total subsidy package amounts to **Rs 15,000 per household**. Previously, the scheme had limited eligibility criteria; it is now being opened to any household that does not yet have water tanks installed. **What this means for residents** For families living in areas affected by water rationing — particularly on the central plateau — this scheme offers a practical way to build a buffer against supply cuts. A 1,000-litre tank can store enough water to meet a typical household's needs for several days during a rotational supply schedule. The expansion of the programme signals that the government does not expect the shortage to resolve quickly, and is prioritising household resilience as a key part of its response. Residents who have been putting off installing tanks now have a stronger financial incentive to act. For those looking to apply, the Development Bank of Mauritius (DBM) is the point of contact for the grant. Households should prepare proof of residence and confirm they do not already have water storage equipment installed. The water crisis in Mauritius has been building for weeks, driven by below-average rainfall and rising demand. The government has faced calls from opposition groups and civil society to move faster on both short-term supply fixes and longer-term infrastructure investment. Source: ION News