The World Bank Group has granted 210 million dollars in support of a nationwide water project. Part of the funding will be used to carry out assessments and expansion projects in 67 weredas by experts at the Ministry of Water & Energy. Water supply projects in 55 weredas, as well as four small-scale irrigation schemes in the Borena Zone of the Oromia Regional State, are set to benefit. Earlier this year, the Ministry awarded two firms a half-billion Birr contract to supply and install equipment that controls and measures utility water flow to cut down on wastage. Studies conducted by the Ministry revealed that close to 40pc of the water supply goes to waste, with the volume increasing in some places.