Mauritius Water Tank Scheme: Only 37% of Eligible Homes Served
Long queues at DBM branches and a shortage of water tanks are slowing a scheme launched on 12 October 2026 to help households across Mauritius.
A government scheme designed to help Mauritian households store water is struggling to deliver on its promise, with thousands of eligible families still waiting for their vouchers weeks after the programme launched.
The Water Tank and Pump Grant Scheme was announced by Minister of Energy and Public Utilities Patrick Asirvaden on 9 October 2026 and officially came into effect on 12 October 2026. It allows qualifying households to receive a government-funded coupon to purchase a water storage tank and pump, easing the impact of Mauritius's recurring water supply disruptions.
According to the latest figures published by the Central Water Authority (CWA), the government body that manages the island's water supply network, a total of 35,817 applications have been submitted since the scheme opened. Of those, 7,789 households have been assessed and confirmed as eligible. However, only 2,862 vouchers had actually been issued as of Monday 27 October 2026. That means roughly 63 percent of already-approved applicants are still waiting for the coupon they need before they can make a purchase.
At the current average rate of processing, analysts estimate it could take several months just to clear the backlog of verified applications, let alone the far larger pool of pending ones.
The bottleneck is being felt most acutely at branches of the Development Bank of Mauritius (DBM), the state-owned bank responsible for issuing the vouchers. The DBM has branches across the island and is the key distribution point for the scheme. At the Saint-Pierre branch on Wednesday 29 October, applicants reported significant delays, with reports that only one staff member was handling the counter at the time. Frustrated applicants were advised to travel to the Curepipe branch instead, which in turn created further congestion there.
Beyond the administrative delays, there is a separate and growing problem on the supply side. Retailers are reportedly running short of water tanks, with demand generated by the scheme far outpacing available stock. This means that even households who have successfully received their vouchers may find themselves unable to complete a purchase immediately.
What this means: For the many Mauritians who face intermittent water cuts, this scheme represented a practical lifeline. But a combination of understaffed distribution points, slow voucher processing, and insufficient tank stock is undermining confidence in the programme. Households in areas with the worst water access are the ones most likely to need this support urgently, and delays affect them most. The government will need to accelerate processing, deploy more DBM staff to high-demand branches, and coordinate with suppliers to replenish tank stocks if the scheme is to achieve its goals before frustration turns into a political liability.
Source: ION News
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Mauritius Water Tank and Pump Grant Scheme?β
The scheme targets qualifying low-income or vulnerable households in Mauritius. Applications are processed by the Central Water Authority (CWA), which assesses and validates eligibility. As of late October 2026, 7,789 households had been confirmed eligible out of 35,817 total applications received.
How do I collect my water tank voucher under the Mauritius scheme?β
Once your application is approved by the CWA, your voucher is issued through a branch of the Development Bank of Mauritius (DBM). DBM has branches across the island, including in Saint-Pierre and Curepipe. Applicants are advised to expect queues due to high demand and limited counter staff at some locations.
Why is there a delay in the Water Tank Grant Scheme in Mauritius?β
Two main problems are slowing the scheme. First, DBM branches responsible for issuing vouchers are understaffed relative to demand, causing long queues. Second, retailers across Mauritius are running low on water tank stock, meaning some approved applicants cannot complete a purchase even after receiving their coupon.
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