UN-HABITAT.:. Tanzania | Activities | Managing Water for Dar es Salaam

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Managing Water for Dar es Salaam

The main sources of water in Dar es Salaam are Lower Ruvu and Upper Ruvu plants in Ruvu River, and Mtoni Plant on Kizinga River and ground water. The major problem in Dar es Salaam is unaccounted for water and unreliable water sources. It is estimated that 60% of water in Dar es Salaam is unaccounted for, out of which 30% is leaked.

Urban Water and Sewerage Authorities (UWSAs) run most of the urban water supplies in Tanzania. However there is a lack of adequate water sources and resources to develop water points in the country. Overall metering by the utilities is below 30% thus giving more customers room to waste or misuse water. There are high water losses which have a substantial effect on revenue collection and economies of water supply. With a proper water-demand management programme, aimed at reducing leakage, wastage and illegal connections, coverage could be increased without large capital investments.

Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Branch:

-	Water, Sanitation and Infrastructure

Partner: Ministry of Water and Livestock Development, Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority (DAWASA), National Environment Management Council, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Donor: UN-HABITAT Water and Sanitation Trust Fund

Theme:

-	Water and Sanitation

Cost:

The Dar es Salaam Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DAWASA) is owned by the government and is tasked with the responsibility of providing water and sewerage services in the Greater Dar es Salaam area, Kibaha and Bagamoyo townships. DAWASA is currently in the process of being privatized.

Gaps Identified

Need to develop a water conservation and demand management strategy and action plan for the city – a water conservation and demand management strategy will be based on the principle of efficiency and equity and thus benefit the urban poor
Need to demonstrate options for community based and managed water systems – already in several areas DAWASA has handed over the management of boreholes to various communities however the management capacity of the communities has to be improved.
Capacity Building and public awareness – there is need to educate policy makers, senior managers and staff on water demand management to reduce the number of illegal connections, vandalism and misuse of treated water through irrigation.
Water Education – water education programmes focus on formal education to educate children and youth in the community on the principles of management, protection and conservation to enable them to become better water managers of tomorrow.

Objectives of the Project

The objectives are this project is to

Improve the efficiency and equity of water supply and use in Dar es Salaam
Improve the knowledge base of the impact of urbanization of water and aquatic ecosystems in Dar es Salaam
Create public awareness on urban water resources management and related environmental issues
To promote value based water education in formal and non-formal education aimed at increasing the understanding and creating a new water ethic among water providers and consumers

Contacts
Chief Technical Advisor
Professor Mujwahuzi
Institute of Resource Assessment
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Email: mujwahuz@udsm.ac.tz