Local News

State reveals plans to reduce urban water woes

Professor Jumanne Maghembe.

THE  Government  has revealed their strategic  plans  to  embark on an urban  up-grading  programme  in an effort to  permanently end severe  water woes  facing  seven  towns  in the country. 

While on  a two-day  working  tour in  the region during the week, to  inspect  water projects and  address  public rallies, the Water Minister, Professor Jumanne Maghembe, revealed this when  addressing  senior government  and municipal officials  at the Rukwa Regional  Commissioner's offices. 

He mentioned seven towns in which the programme would be initiated. They include Sumbawanga, Lindi, Mtwara , Kigoma , Musoma , Bukoba , Babati  and Kigoma. He also said that the up-shot was geared to  ensure  that  the areas gets reliable and safe water under the short, middle  and long  terms  urban upgrading  initiatives . 

Earlier  on, during  her  welcome  remarks , the Rukwa  Regional  Water  Engineer, Ms Emmy  George,  told Minister  Maghembe  that  the  World Bank is spending over 5.2bn/- to develop two major water projects. These are aiming at easing water supply problems in Sumbawanga Town. 

The water projects are scheduled for completion on October this year. Eng. George told Prof Maghembe that two water projects involve drilling of 13 deep wells at the Lichwe River basin. It will also include the rehabilitation of dilapidated water pipes and connecting new ones. 

According to the water engineer, more than 393.6m/- would be spent on connecting new pipes while 4.9bn/- goes into replacing old water pipes.  “At the moment, 13 deep wells have already been drilled, but only eight of them are supplying water, with a capacity of 4,000,000 litres per day.

Half of the work on construction of a water reservoir has been done,” she noted.  Ms George added that once completed, the projects would increase water production from the present 30 per cent to 80 per cent, during the dry season as the actual demand stands at 9,000,000 litres per day.