Project Kickoff
We are pleased to announce that construction on the Musinzira-Matana water system began March 20 and was completed October 14, 2025. The system was made possible by the generosity of supporters like you.
This water system marks a new beginning for this rural community by delivering permanent and close access to clean water. Currently, there is no clean water located nearby, which means community members walk several miles away to fetch water that is contaminated.
This project serves 3,500 people. And provides water to the 1,200- 1,500 people who rely the market center approximately 3x per week. Water at the market center helps address transmission and proliferation of pathogens, bacteria, parasites, and viruses. It will have a significant health impact for the entire community.
WATER ACCESS PRIOR TO CLEAN WATER SYSTEM PARTNERSHIPS
Building sustainable water systems breaks the cycle of poor health, poverty, and conflict. The fact is, that preventable, waterborne diseases are still a leading cause of death in Burundi in this day and age. Communities with Gazelle Foundation water systems, on the other hand, have drastically reduced, and in some cases eliminated, the presence of water-borne illnesses among the families that live in them.
Clean water means clear futures for the residents whose young people can pursue education while their families can devote more time to farming and other economic activities to strengthen their community’s long-term resilience.
Project Overview
Construction dates: March 20, 2025 - October 14, 2025
Located in Bururi, Province, Songa and Matana Communes.
Scope: 13.6 km pipeline (8.45 miles)
4 storage tanks
16 tap stands
Employees: 85 workers including masons and plumbers
Serves 3,500 residents including 1 church and school, and a market center
Project Schematic
Beneficiaries of this system include 300 worshipers at Penetecost Church 2x per week, and 1,200- 1,500 people who use the market center approximately 3x per week. Water at the market center helps address transmission and proliferation of pathogens, bacteria, parasites, and viruses. It will have a significant health impact for the entire community.
Gazelle Foundation is Uniquely Qualified for this project
We continue to maintain a 100% success rate of our water systems. Hiring local workers for the project construction develops local knowledge for upkeep and maintenance, as the ownership of all water systems are turned over to the community upon completion. Meet our project manager Jean Bosco Ndabaniwe who keeps multiple construction projects going all year.
Top Left: Collection chamber details. The drawing includes specifications for construction details and materials. Top Right: child fetching water. Bottom Left: workers excavating the source in preparation for building the collection chamber. Bottom Right: The collection chamber of Murenge-Shanga System #73. Once the collection chamber is built, clean water is available to the community — even before tap stands are built. The collect chamber is heart or center of the water system — where ground water is collected then filtered before it is distributed. The collection chamber ensures all tanks and tap stands have a supply of clean water. Gazelle Foundation collection chambers have orange square lids, and a plaque that permanently displays the name of the system and date construction begins. The date marks a new beginning for the community.
HOW IT WORKS
Water is captured from a reliable source before it can become contaminated. It is filtered in the collection chamber and flows onward. Entrenched PVC pipe carries water to holding tanks and to multiple tap stands. Tap stands are strategically positioned within easy walking distance to schools, churches, community centers, health clinics and other central locations to maximize access points for all residents. Water is available for free to all people regardless of the person’s tribe or religion.
We receive monthly updates during each Water System’s construction. Check back to see current pictures and updates and follow our progress on Facebook and Instagram.
A child collects clean water from the distribution pipeline of Musinzara-Matana Water system. Photograph April 23, 2025.
Economic Benefits of Clean Water Investment
According to the World Health Organization, every dollar invested in clean water yields $4 - $12 in economic returns. In Burundi, building water systems provides jobs and stimulates local economies in a country with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, and where the average family lives on less than $600 a year.
For this project, 85 local workers have been hired to help with system construction, including masons and plumbers. We also purchase supplies and materials locally, giving the community’s economy a further boost.
Hiring local workers for the project construction develops local knowledge for upkeep and maintenance, as the ownership of all water systems are turned over to the community upon completion.
Construction Updates
INTERIM PROJECT UPDATE: 1
Jean Bosco Ndabaniwe, our onsite project manager, reports progress on Musinzira-Matana is moving along well. Milestones completed as of April 23, 2025 include:
Source catchments are complete
Tap stand at the source is complete
Tank 1 is 40% complete
Digging trenches for distribution pipeline is 3.5km
Installation and connection of pipeline is 2.8km
Project updates will be posted here and on social media. This project will take 24 weeks to complete.
Six weeks into construction and clean water is already flowing. (May 29, 2025)
INTERIM PROJECT UPDATE: 2
Jean Bosco Ndabaniwe, our onsite project manager, reports progress on Musinzira-Matana is moving along well. Milestones completed as of May 19, 2025 include:
3 tap stands (of 16) are complete
Tank 1 (of 4) is complete
Tank 2 is 80% complete
Digging trenches for distribution pipeline is 6 km
Connection of pipeline is around 4.6 km
Project updates will be posted here and on social media. This project will be complete in August 2025.
INTERIM PROJECT UPDATE: 3
Jean Bosco Ndabaniwe, our onsite project manager, reports progress on Musinzira-Matana is on time and on budget. Residents of the community are already fetching clean water from the pipeline, trenching for the pipeline continues. Milestones completed as of July 15, 2025 include:
6 tap stands (of 16) are complete
3 tanks (of 5) are complete
Digging trenches is around 11 km
Connection of pipes is around 8.4km
INTERIM PROJECT UPDATE: 4
Jean Bosco Ndabaniwe, our onsite project manager reports construcion progress completed as of August 13, 2025 includes
10 (of 16) tap stands are complete
3 (of 4) tanks are complete
Tank 4 is 40% completion
Digging trenches is around 12 km (7.46 miles)
Connection of pipes is around 10.9km (6.77 miles)
Learn more about our design and construction processes here.
INTERIM PROJECT UPDATE: 5
Jean Bosco Ndabaniwe, our project manager shared that the community is thrilled to have access to clean water. The team met with the Minister of Hydraulic and their General Director for the Munzira-Matana and Gihanama water projects. Based on local advice, we increased the fourth tank's size from 10 m3 to 20 m3, adding 4 more tap stands, bringing the total to 16. The water source and tank can handle these extra tap stands.Key construction milestones as of September 9, 2025 include:
12 of 16 tap stands are complete
Tank 4 is 40% complete
Digging trenches is around 13 km (8.07 miles)
Connection of pipes is around 12km (7.45 miles)
Learn more about our design and construction processes here.
System Completion
Musinzara-Matana water system was completed on October 14, 2025.
It brings us, 3,500 people closer to achieving our goal of providing every person in Burundi with clean water, the highest quality of life, and hope within reach.
One of the key components of our work is the handoff of the water system. Upon completion, we turn ownership and stewardship of the system over to the community. The local workers employed to build our systems have the maintenance knowledge that allows for greater long-term viability and sustainability of our systems. Read more about the handover.
“They came to fetch the clean water.”
JOIN OUR MISSION
This project was funded by donors like you. Learn more about our charitable events in Austin, Texas and learn about other ways to get involved. We thank the generous donors for changing the lives of the people in this Burundian community by giving permanent and life-changing access to clean water.
Our next water system depends on you! Help us give the gift of clean water to those that need it most.
Students at the tap stand located at their school. The Gazelle Foundation works with incredible teams and sponsors who are dedicated to changing the world one water system at a time. With joy we are transforming lives across the globe in rural Burundi.