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Metolong Dam with water flowing, surrounded by hilly landscape in Lesotho.Metolong Dam with water flowing, surrounded by hilly landscape in Lesotho.

Water security for landlocked Lesotho

The $430 million Metolong Dam water infrastructure program has supplied Lesotho's capital, preserved 48,000 jobs and created 6,000 new opportunities.

Client

Millennium Challenge Corporation

Location

Maseru, Lesotho

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Steve Lowry PE
Senior Water Resources Engineer

Access to clean water delivers improved public health

Lesotho has historically faced water shortages affecting textile industries and growing populations. Now with improved water delivery to both local users and regional textile operations, the capital city of Maseru and its surrounding communities are enjoying multi-pronged benefits, including improved public health, reduced infant and child mortality rates and increased productivity.

Economic impacts and job creation 

A more reliable water supply has allowed businesses to operate consistently, supporting economic growth and employment.

Public health improvements

Access to clean water resulted in improved public health, reduced infant and child mortality rates and increased productivity.

Stakeholder engagement and support

Project teams kept communities abreast of devel­op­ments and addressed potential problems with transparency.

Textile industry support

The program ensured consistent water delivery to textile facilities, stabilizing this important industry and protecting jobs.

Beyond basic water access, the project delivered wide-ranging benefits. Additional social and envi­ron­men­tal management initiatives included cultural resources management and development, land acquisition and reset­tle­ment and catchment management. For a landlocked nation with limited resources, this showed how water infrastructure investment generates ripple effects across health, industry and economic growth. 

Metalong Dam, Maseru, Lesotho

Learn how this project is delivering water for southern Africa's landlocked kingdom.

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Curious to learn more?

Connect with an expert to find out how we delivered this project.

Lowry_Steve_G.jpg

Steve Lowry

Senior Water Resources Engineer

Steve's experience spans four decades of civil engineering and water resources, with expertise in design, construction, QA/QC and oversight of major water infrastructure.

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