RURAL Water and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) in Mwanza region has managed to form water users’ committees in various councils of the city in an effort to sustain water projects in particular areas.
Among others, the committees are entrusted to collect revenues from the water bills and use them for maintaining the projects.
Recently, stakeholders of the sector told the ‘Daily News’ on different occasions that the move has enabled them to pay for various operation costs, thus relieving RUWASA from the burden of running the projects.
RUWASA manager for Misungwi District, Eng Marwa Kisibo, said they have facilitated creation of a water user committee which oversees the project at Shilalo Ward and they have conducted training on the management and operation of the project.
He also said they have formed another committee to manage the project at Mahando village and enable them to get training in project management and operation.
Acting Manager of RUWASA in Sengerema District, Eng Venslaus Blaise, said for sustainability of the projects, they have built five water stations for Kasomeko water project which serves more than 3000 people. The project is managed by the villagers themselves.
He said they have also built eight stations for the Kamisa project which serves 4000 residents.
The leader of water users committee at Fella and Usagara wards (FEUWASA) in Misungwi District, Mr Peter Paul, said they collect revenues amounting to between 9m/- to 10m/- per month which they spend on paying for electricity bills, maintenance, salaries for servants and other services.
He said the major source of water at the area, whose population is growing rapidly, is a deep well with a depth of 110 meters which produces 24,000 litres per hour.
The secretary of the water users committee at Yichobela village, Nyigogo Ward, in Magu District, Mr Malimi Thomas, said they collect 1.2m/- from water sales, saying they sell a 20-litre bucket at 50/-.
The Chairman of water users committee at Nyanzenda, Kasisa and Nyakasungu wards in Buchosa council, Mr Ibrahim Misana, said they sell three buckets of 20 liters at 100/-, a move that makes them collect 1.2 m/- per month.
