Turkish company to drill for 400m/- litres of water in Africa's biggest underground basin

By The guardian reporter

Mercy Silla, Mkuranga District Commissioner

Ground water exploration project has begun at Kimbiji aquifer, one of Africa’s largest underground water basins, whereby it is expected to deliver at least 400 million litres of water per day.

The 92bn/- water project by Turkish Zetas Construction Company will benefit the larger part of Temeke District in Dar es Salaam and more than 13m litres of it will serve Mkuranga District population, according to revelations made during the Dar es Salaam, Water and Sewerage Authority (Dawasa) meeting with Mkuranga District Commissioner Mercy Silla.

Briefing the DC on the progress of the project and how it will amplify the new investment hub of Mkuranga, the authority’s Communications Manager, Nelly Msuya, pointed out that exploration has started at Mwasunga area in Temeke, where several 600m deep wells will be drilled. The basin originated from the Kimbiji aquifer system.

Raising concern, Silla questioned how the Dawasa’s water exploration programme would benefit the people of Mkuranga District taking in account that the ground water system in the district in away has to benefit the local population, who are the primary water infrastructure caretakers.

In response, the Manager said Dawasa is planning to drill a 600 m deep well at Kurungu District which will produce at least 13 million litres of water daily with the main target being Mkuranga township population.
She noted that the Turkey based ZETAS construction company was awarded the three major components of the Kimbiji ground water project contract.

According to Msuya, ZETAS will drill eight wells in Temeke and one in Mkuranga District, and also undertake construction of storage tanks and lay down customers’ water distribution networks.

“Dawasa water distribution will make things easy for Mkuranga township customers. We guarantee our clients best services hoping that water resources availability will beef up economic investments in this area which has had water shortage,” Msuya said.

John Kirecha, Dawasa’s hydro-geologist pointed out that the Kulungu 600m deep well will avail water to various public and private entities such as hospitals, schools and up- coming industries to boost the economy as well as uplift people’s livelihood.

The Dawasa officials noted that the project is a one-year task which is expected to come to completion in the year 2013/2014 adding that there are huge deposits of fresh ground water in Kimbiji aquifer and so Dawasa is building an exploratory and distribution infrastructure.