DAWASA executes key water projects in Dar, Coast regions

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority (DAWASA) has achieved great progress in improving water supply across Dar es Salaam and the Coast regions over the past four years under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership.

During this period, the authority embarked on two lucrative Rufiji River and Kidunda Dam projects which are expected to ease access to the precious liquid in some parts Morogoro, Coast and Dar es Salaam regions.

Speaking to reporters in Dodoma yesterday, DAWASA acting Chief Executive Officer Engineer Mkama Bwire said the commencement of the Kidunda Dam construction marks a major step in addressing water challenges in the two regions.

The 335.9bn/- Kidunda project, according to the DAWASA chief, is currently at 28 per cent completion and is expected to be fully operational by 2026.

He explained that Dar es Salaam and the Coast regions face water shortages, particularly during the dry season, due to reduced water levels in the Ruvu River, which supplies 87 per cent of water to the two regions.

“I extend my gratitude to President Samia for her bold decision to initiate the construction of Kidunda Dam under her administration. This project has been discussed since independence, but now, at last, it is being executed,” he said.

Detailing on Kidunda project, the CEO said that it will have a storage capacity of about 190 billion litres of water and expected to generate 20 megawatts of electricity.

On the other hand, Eng Bwire said that the feasibility study for another major water project in the Rufiji River, aimed at easing water shortages in Dar es Salaam, is 89 per cent complete following the government’s approval in November 2022.

He added that the project is expected to meet the city’s water demands until 2050, benefiting 108 wards in Dar es Salaam and 53 others in the Coast Region.

Under President Samia’s tenure, DAWASA began implementation of the Kimbiji water project in Kigamboni, valued at 21.2bn/-.

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Furthermore, the ongoing water supply expansion project includes constructing a 15-million-litre capacity storage tank and laying a 28- inch pipeline over a distance of 6.35 km.

It is expected to benefit residents of Kigamboni, Kimbiji, Ilala,Temeke and Kurasini.

“This will greatly assist in water availability in Kigamboni due to its size and capacity to serve the people in these areas,” Eng Bwire noted.

He added that the 132.2bn/- Mbezi Beach sewage treatment project is underway and its completion is going to address inadequate sewage infrastructure in Dar es Salaam.

Expected to be completed in October 2026, this project will include the installation of a 101 -kilometre pipeline and a treatment plant with a capacity of 16,000 cubic centimetres.

He revealed that the project has already reached 57.25 per cent completion. Cumulatively, he added, over the past four years, DAWASA has implemented more than 25 projects valued at 987.6bn/-.

Of this amount, projects worth 232.9bn/- have been completed and are operational, while projects worth 754.7bn/- are at various stages of implementation.

Furthermore, short-term and long-term water projects worth 3.1tr/- have been planned and are in different stages of preparation.

Eng Bwire said since July 2021, water production capacity has increased from 520,000,000 litres per day to 534,600,000 litres per day, reflecting an increase of 14,600,000 litres daily.

He mentioned the major water sources include surface and underground water, of which 93 percent of supply comes from surface water, while only 7 percent is from underground sources.

Additionally, water storage capacity has increased from 153,649,000 litres to 198,965,000 litres, a rise of 45,316,000 litres.

The water transportation and distribution network has also expanded from 4,690.7 km to 7,206 km, an increase of 2,513.4 km.

On sanitation services, Eng Bwire said the sewerage network has grown from 450 km to 519.4 km, an increase of 69.4 km.

The number of clean water connections has increased from 343,019 to 455,720, reflecting an additional 112,701 customers.

The availability of clean water services has improved from an average of 89 per cent to 93 per cent, while sanitation services coverage has increased from 25 per cent to 45 per cent.