Author name: bdadmin

In April 2025, a delegation of water quality experts visited Mozambique to continue collaborating on water quality subjects under the Blue Deal partnership. During this mission, Oscar van Zanten, Eva Ruiter, and Jan van de Graaf focused on several key goals.

The delegation evaluated the progress of the water quality blended learning approach. They also looked at the introduction of innovative practices for water quality testing. Finally, they discussed the implementation of water quality management regulations.

Expanding water quality knowledge through blended learning

In previous years, the Blue Deal partnership introduced an e-learning course on water quality monitoring. This working visit served as an opportunity to evaluate the first phase of the online course and launch its second phase. The course has now been expanded to include a new module on aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity, and a final test. A personalised certificate is automatically generated if the student answers more than 70% of the questions correctly.

The full e-learning course can be found here in english and here in portuguese.

During the visit to ARA-Sul,IP in Maputo and ARA-Centro,IP in Tete, a short introductory course on ecology supported the introduction of the second phase of blended learning - an approach that is contributing to the development of a strong base of technical capacity within the ARAs. During a meeting with Bernabé Fondo (Freshwater Program Manager) and Antonio Serra (Landscape designer) of the World Wide Fund for Nature ( WWF), the e-learning course was also introduced to them. They responded very enthusiastically and will use the e-learning course to train WWF staff.

Introducing innovative techniques for water quality monitoring

A further goal for this visit was to test new tools for water quality monitoring in the field.

As part of ongoing efforts, in the last quarter of 2024, the Dutch Water Authorities ( DWA) provided ARA- Centro, IP with simple, low-cost handheld meters. During a field trip to the Zambezi River, ARA-Centro, IP used these devices to assess their usability in combination with the smartphone app Aquality. Further information can be found here.

With many monitoring sites located in remote areas and poor road access in the country, transporting water samples for analysis is often impractical. Limited laboratory capacity exacerbates this problem. In these cases, portable hand-held meters can provide reliable readings and provide an effective alternative for collecting data in addition to the laboratory analyses.

Wastewater discharge and the polluter pays principle

In Maputo, the Dutch team met with teams from ARA Sul, IP andDNGRH. Discussions with these two organisations focused on the implementation of Decree 52/2023, which regulates water quality standards and wastewater discharge. Technical inspections and pilot enforcement actions by ARA- Sul, IP have shown that there are challenges in applying this regulation, especially the polluter pays principle. This calls for urgent discussions between the ARAs and the DNGRH on this issue and a possible revision of the decree.

DNGRH is working on a proposal for water tariffs and has requested DWA to give more support. The new proposal will then be submitted to the Cabinet.

Strengthening water data management

The visit also covered water data management, with a particular focus on the development of SNIRH (National System of Information on National Water Resources) and the implementation of HydroNET. Further discussions on data management and visualisation will be conducted and harmonised between the different themes within the partnership.

Other activities related to water quality

As part of the Water Quality component, the Blue Deal Mozambique is working to address water pollution from gold mining in the Buzi and Pungwe river basins. Since 2023, stakeholder meetings have been organised to facilitate collaboration between ARA Centro and other government agencies, farmers, and miners. These discussions have led to the ongoing development of an action plan, focused on licensing companies and monitoring wastewater discharge, raising mining operators' awareness, and strengthening the integrated multisectoral management of the Buzi and Pungwe river basins. We're planning to keep working on this issue with a working visit and a live stakeholder meeting in August this year. 

Through the Blue Deal partnership, the Dutch Water Authorities have actively supported Mozambique's regional water authorities in improving dike management practices. This cooperation has included technical training on dike design, construction and repair, and the introduction of tools for visual dike inspection and monitoring. Based on this work, the partnership has moved on to field inspections of selected dike systems. This work started with ARA-Sul,IP and was recently extended to ARA-Centro,IP and ARA-Norte,IP, marking an important step in strengthening Mozambique's flood protection infrastructure.

Visual inspection of two major flood protection systems

In October 2024, ARA Norte,IP conducted a visual inspection of the dike of Nante, while ARA Centro,IP carried out a similar work on the dike of Luabo in March this year. Both assessments confirmed a significant deterioration in the structural condition of these flood defence systems, which requires urgent intervention.

ARA Norte’s inspection revealed widespread issues in the 19-kilometre dike of Nante, including severe erosion, deep cracks, collapsed sections, and malfunctioning hydraulic structures. On the other hand, ARA Centro’s inspection of the 64-kilometre dike of Luabo also revealed serious structural weaknesses, including cracks and gullies, excessive vegetation and large trees on the dike, buildings on top of the dike and the presence of other risky human activities.

Repeated failures due to lack of maintenance

The latest findings confirm that inadequate maintenance has left these structures vulnerable. Despite previous rehabilitation attempts, key segments of Nante’s dike continue to fail during major weather events, leaving surrounding communities and agricultural lands at risk, as past floods in 2015, 2019, and 2022 have shown.

The dike of Luabo is in an even worse state. This dike was originally built to protect the village of Luabo and the sugarcane fields nearby. However, it has not undergone any maintenance since the local sugar factory closed more than 15 years ago.

Moving forward to address the structural issues

Following these inspections, both ARAs will develop maintenance plans for these dike systems, with support from DWA dike experts. The reconstruction of the dike of Nante will begin in the near future. The financial support for this work has been secured by ARA Norte,IP as part of a programme funded by the World Bank. On the other hand, ARA Centro,IP has no clear preparations for the reconstruction of the Luabo dike.

Next steps and strategic Importance

Dike systems play a vital role in safeguarding livelihoods and reducing flood risks. These inspections are part of a coordinated strategy to increase Mozambique’s resilience to climate change by strengthening key infrastructure. The Blue Deal partnership will continue working with the ARAs and the National Directorate of Water Resources in developing practical solutions for inspecting and monitoring dike systems, developing maintenance plans, and providing advice, as needed, in large-scale interventions from other initiatives.

More about component 4

Dike training and visual inspections are an essential part of the Blue Deal's flood risk management component in Mozambique. This component is also working on other issues such as the involvement of communities in the operation and maintenance of dikes, the development of flood risk maps, the development and use of hydrological models, land use planning and flood risks, among others. 

Under the partnership with SASB, FACE Association carried out a manual drainage and canal cleaning campaign to strengthen flood prevention measures in the city of Beira. This proactive effort aimed to minimise the risk of flooding ahead of the 2024/2025 rainy season.

Improving Urban Resilience

Between September 2024 and January 2025, over 19 kilometres of drainage ditches were cleaned, and 26 critical drainage points were unblocked. These efforts have significantly improved water flow in flood-prone neighbourhoods across the city. In direct support of Beira's commitment to urban resilience and climate adaptation, this activity helped improve the drainage system and reduce the risk of flooding, protecting infrastructure and improving the living conditions of citizens.

Social Inclusion and improved quality of life

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the campaign created temporary job opportunities and encouraged community participation in urban water management and sanitation. Residents from critical neighbourhoods participated in the cleaning campaigns and awareness-raising sessions on waste management.

These efforts also support the local commitment to public health by reducing wastewater accumulation and associated health hazards.

Looking Ahead

The FACE Association's efforts help to achieve the partnership's long-term goals. Under the Blue Deal programme and other initiatives, FACE will continue with routine maintenance and awareness campaigns with support from local authorities. These efforts will encourage people to dispose of their waste properly and help to prevent urban flooding, as the city of Beira is frequently affected by heavy rains. 

In Mozambique, the regional water authorities (ARAs) are undertaking impactful water licensing campaigns with support from the Blue Deal program. These campaigns aim to promote sustainable water use, regulatory compliance, fair access across key river basins, and improve ARAs financial sustainability.

In the footsteps of ARA-Sul, IP, ARA-Norte, IP and ARA-Centro,IP started launching targeted communication campaigns designed not just to inform about their duties and responsibilities but to inspire water users to get licensed and pay for the exploitation of water.

Direct engagement with water users and the development of trust

Focused on promoting “Safe and Healthy Water”, ARA Norte’s campaign focused on visiting farmers, industrial users, and private water providers to answer their questions, explain their legal obligations, and help them register on the spot. Supported by radio, TV, and community meetings, this hands-on approach built trust and led to a significant increase in licensing applications and compliance.

On the other hand, also aiming at behavioural change, ARA Centro,IP turned to radio campaigns to call for the licensing of water users in the three river basins under its authority and promote a better understanding of the ARAs' role.

Inclusive water management

It is estimated that the ARA Norte,IP and ARA Centro,IP campaigns reached well over 500,000 people across the river basins under their management. These campaigns broke down language barriers and social exclusion, with messages delivered through face-to-face interactions, radio and TV, in both the official language (Portuguese) and local dialects.

Expanded understanding of water governance and the road ahead

These campaigns prompted the need for increased engagement with communities and led to the application of new water users, who started to see the water licensing process not as bureaucracy, but as a necessary action to ensure its sustainable exploitation. Developing deeper community partnerships to support inclusive water governance and further identification of water users are key activities for ARAs Customer Service Departments. The Blue Deal partnership will continue working on these subjects with the ARAs, as they plan to carry on their communication activities and direct outreach for this year. 

The introduction of SIRHA, a digital water users information system developed by iCarto with support from Blue Deal and Galician Cooperation, has transformed the way Mozambican water authorities track water consumption, issue licences, and effectively engage with water users.

In this video, Teodomiro Cabral explains how ARA-Sul,IPis using the tool to automate processes across their different departments. 

As part of the Blue Deal partnership, Mozambican water authorities (ARAs) were trained in WEAP and HydroNET. Integrated into the GLOW project, these tools support real-time forecasting, scenario planning and improved responses to drought and flood risks.

In the video, Ernesto Tivane and David Mucambe, from ARA-Sul,IP, explain how these critical tools for data-driven water management are enabling local water authorities to anticipate and respond to droughts, floods and growing water demands.

One of the critical areas addressed by the Blue Deal Partnership in Mozambique is flood protection.

With an increase in severe weather events, dike systems are essential in Mozambique's battle against flood damage. Through training, technology, and collaborative effort, Mozambique's Water Management Agencies (ARAs) are gradually improving their ability to manage dike systems and protect communities against flooding.

Building Capacity and Introducing New Tools

Since Phase 1, the Blue Deal partnership has been addressing flood prevention topics in Mozambique. By the end of Phase 1 (2019 - 2022), there was a growing interest within Mozambique's Regional Water Authorities (ARAs) and the National Directorate for Water Resources Management (DNGRH) to improve the capacity of these organisations to design and manage dike systems.

In Phase 1, Dutch Water Authorities DWA dike experts conducted a dike management training for ARA-Sul and introduced a GIS-based dike inspection software(QField).Armed with new knowledge and technology, ARA-Sul inspected the dikes along the Limpopo and Incomati rivers. These inspections revealed many issues, including erosion, unauthorised construction, overgrown vegetation, and structural wear. These findings underlined the need for meticulous rehabilitation and maintenance plans to ensure the continued safety of these dikes.

Using QGIS, ARA Sul processed the dike inspection data collected and created detailed maps that were later used to develop a management plan for these dike systems.

Expanding Training Across Regions

The work developed with ARA Sul proved to be important for the other ARAs. As the need for robust dike management became apparent, the Blue Deal initiative extended its training programmes to ARA-Centro,IP and ARA-Norte,IP.

Last year, the three ARAs and the DNGRH started discussing collectively strategies for dike maintenance, best practices for dike design, and dike regulations.

In May 2024, two training in dike management were organized for ARA Centro and ARA Norte. The first training consisted of a one-week introduction to dike design and rehabilitation, led by Tecnica Engenheiros Consultores,Lda - a Mozambican consultancy firm. The second training consisted of practical training in dike inspection and data processing, conducted by DWA dike experts.

A call for urgent actions

The two training organized this year were a blend of theory and practical field visits. The team visited the Nante dike system along the Licungo River to practice dike inspection in the field. They also visited a dike breach near an irrigation pumping station (Muziva). The breaches in this last dike and other dike systems in Mozambique highlight that good dike maintenance is urgently needed in the country.

Collaborative Efforts and Knowledge Sharing

The training and inspection processes were not only about acquiring new skills but also about sharing experiences and best practices. During this year's training for ARA Norte and ARA Centro, an expert from ARA Sul shared their findings from the 2022 dike inspections along the Limpopo and Incomati rivers. This knowledge transfer is essential as ARA Norte and ARA Centro prepare to inspect their dike systems and develop their management plans.

In recent years, wastewater discharge and its impact on water quality has been an ongoing concern for the ARAs and other environmental organisations in Mozambique. Through the Blue Deal partnership, a significant breakthrough was achieved when representatives of key organisations - ARAs (Mozambique's Water Management Agencies), DNGRH (National Directorate of Water Resources Management), MTA (Ministry of Land and Environment) and AQUA (Agency for Environmental Quality Control) - came together in a series of online and live meetings to discuss this issue.

The collaborative effort resulted in the finalisation and approval of a comprehensive checklist and guidelines for the licensing of effluent discharge at the beginning of 2024. This is a crucial step in the ongoing mission of improving water quality in Mozambique through effective regulation and enforcement of wastewater discharge.

Pilot licensing of effluent discharge

Following the approval of these critical tools, the focus in 2024 has shifted toward the validation and implementation phase. The ARAs are now engaged in pilot projects to validate the usability of these tools and foster institutional collaboration.

The ongoing efforts of the ARAs and other stakeholders also demonstrate a commitment to continue developing innovative strategies to further improve the licensing process and shorten the time taken.

Increasing cooperation and collaboration

The checklist and guidelines are essential tools for improving collaboration and cooperation between the ARAs and the organizations involved in the licensing and enforcement processes. By clearly outlining the steps and requirements for wastewater discharge, it's expected that these tools make the regulatory process more efficient. Collectively, these organisations are not only improving the capacity for effective enforcement but also driving a meaningful impact on improving water quality in Mozambique.

The city of Beira in Mozambique is frequently affected by floods. In recent years, climate change has put additional pressure on the city's drainage system due to more frequent severe storms and rising sea levels. To help the city deal with these two issues, the Blue Deal partnership is working with the Beira Autonomous Sanitation Unit (SASB) and FACE Association to improve the management of the city’s drainage system.

Cleaning of canals and storm drains

Under the Blue Deal partnership, SASB and FACE are working together on the cleaning of canals in urban and peri-urban areas in Beira. Between Q3/2023 and Q1/2024, FACE worked on the manual cleaning of canals with the support of labour from the communities living next to the canals. On the other hand, SASB has been working on the mechanical cleaning of canals in this city.

From February to April 2024, FACE carried out storm drain cleaning activities in Beira. A team of 30 workers per month, totalling 90 people over the three months, cleaned 3,208 storm drains and 250 outlet boxes, and removed 3 containers of 6m³ of solid waste from the Maraza water retention basin.

The most common waste items obstructing the drainage system were PET bottles, HDP, PP, product packaging, and disposable nappies.

Similar to canal cleaning, storm drain cleaning activities promoted social inclusion and community participation by allowing different individuals to get involved and earn a small income. It is important to continue raising awareness in the communities of Beira about proper waste disposal and ongoing flood resilience practices.

Vegetation regrowth assessment

Vegetation is widespread in the drainage canals in the city of Beira and that leads to water management problems. To address this, the Blue Deal, in collaboration with SASB and FACE, is assessing the regrowth of vegetation in the drainage canals in this city.

The general information gathered about the canals' size and vegetation (thickness, length, and growth patterns) will allow SASB to define the most suitable strategy for the cleaning of canals (manual or mechanical) and properly plan and budget its activities.

Land-use Planning and Stakeholders engagement

The cleaning campaigns are raising important issues in the cooperation between the organisations involved in urban planning and development. The SASB plays an important, albeit limited, role in reducing Beira's flooding problems.

In the Muave district – an area within the municipality of Beira that is growing - SASB is getting involved earlier in the planning process. It's becoming increasingly clear to everyone that it’s important to coordinate water and urban planning from the start - the municipality is becoming more aware of this.

Every week, a consultation meeting is organised between the SASB and the municipal department for urban expansion to ensure that water management helps guide urban planning. This will help to stop construction in parts that are too low, create sufficient retention facilities, protect against storm surges from the Indian Ocean, and develop a good layout of the drainage canals.

Next to the activities in the Muave district, a “water opportunity map” for the whole city of Beira was developed. This interactive map can be used as a tool to enhance water as a co-arranging principle in urban planning.

The growing demand for drinking water and the need to preserve water resources makes water quality a critical issue in Mozambique.

The vast areas under management by the Regional Water Authorities (ARAs) and limited access to technology and resources make traditional water quality monitoring methods both impractical and expensive. To address this issue, the Blue Deal partnership in Mozambique is working with ARA-Centro,IP on finding innovative methods and tools for water quality monitoring.

New Approaches to Water Quality Measurement

The pressing need for simple, cost-effective, and user-friendly tools that can provide accurate data, demands skipping intermediate steps and adopting the latest, most efficient, technologies directly. For water quality measurement, this could mean moving from expensive laboratory equipment to mobile-based solutions to perform analyses, thus transforming how water quality is monitored, and enabling more frequent and widespread testing even in remote areas.

Portable Water Quality Labs

A promising idea in this work is the development of a "Portable Water Quality Lab". This kit would include various sensors and analogue test strips that can measure complex substances such as nitrate and phosphate. This concept leverages smartphone technology to read and interpret these tests, making it accessible and easy for anyone to use, regardless of their technical expertise.

Correctness and Precision

When evaluating mobile-based water quality tests, two critical performance features are “correctness” and “precision”. Correctness refers to how closely the measured values align with the actual concentrations of substances, while precision indicates the consistency of the results across multiple tests.

Ensuring that the tests are both accurate and reliable is essential in adopting effective tools for water quality monitoring.

Innovative Products and Technologies

Several products and technologies have emerged as potential solutions for mobile-based water quality measurement such as Deltares Aquality App, AKVO Caddisfly, AQUON Laboratories, FFEM, CyanoLakes, MQuant StripScan, and SAM-1 Smart Aquameter.

The Deltares Aquality App has been tested in the Netherlands and Mozambique, demonstrating promising results for the easy and quick measurement of nitrate, salt levels, mineral nitrogen, ammonium, and phosphate concentrations. For the Blue Deal Mozambique, it would be interesting to test two other products: the MQuant Stripscan and SAM-1 Smart Aquameter. Both products offer convenience, accuracy, and ease of use.

Continuous research and innovation

Ongoing research is exploring the capabilities of smartphones for water quality analysis. Several scientific studies and organizations are exploring the possibilities provided by smartphone-based systems for water quality analysis and its reliability, such as the Technical University of Delft and the University of Leiden.

Embracing these new ways of monitoring can empower the ARAs and other water professionals to proactively monitor water quality, make informed decisions, and contribute to the preservation of water in Mozambique. In 2024 our partnership will continue exploring this topic and a working visit is planned for Q3 to continue working with ARA Centro, IP on this subject.