Dawasco: Faulty pumps cause of water scarcity

 

A fountain at Radar Restaurant along Argwings Kodhek Road. Photo/SALATON NJAU  

 

By David Kisanga

Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Corporation (Dawasco)

The Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Corporation (Dawasco) has admitted that water scarcity in the city is a result of three faulty water pumps at the Upper Ruvu.


Several parts of the city, which is the country’s leading commercial hub, have been going without water for weeks now.

The water utility’s reaction comes after The Guardian reported water shortages in several parts of the city leading its dwellers to access the precious liquid at unreasonably high cost and without ascertaining its safety.

Dawasco Public Relations Officer Everlasting Lyaro told this paper yesterday that its three water pumps at Upper Ruvu had technical faults adding that by yesterday two of them had been fixed and that some of the city could start getting water today (yesterday).

“We are currently experiencing problems at Upper Ruvu due to the fact that our three water pumps are experiencing technical faults,” she said.

When the three pumps work to capacity, they pump 80 million litres per day, he said, adding that with the two mended pumps they can only pump 50 million litres per day.
Currently Dar es Salaam gets 300 million litres per day, which is far below the daily demand of 450 million litres, thus creating a serious water shortage in the blossoming city.

Lyaro stressed that they are still working on the other pump so as to bring the service back to normal.

Some parts of the city including Kimara, Tabata, Kijitonyama, Makumbusho, City Centre, Ubungo, Manzese, Tandale, Kinondoni and Tegeta have been facing serious water shortage forcing people to buy fresh water at 1,000/- per 20-litre bucket.

Interviewed residents told this paper that they had little or no access to the precious liquid since the end of December.

Meanwhile, in a move to curb water loss and theft, Dawasco dispatched workers yesterday to different parts of the city to check on the problem. Lyaro said that the operation has started in areas which are notorious in causing water loss, noting that some of the problems are caused by ongoing road construction and unfaithful city inhabitants.

“The current 55 percent water loss is attributed to a number of factors which include bursting of water pipes, vandalism by water thieves, ongoing road construction and the use of substandard water pipes,” she said.

She called upon the residents to volunteer to Dawasco information on water leakages so as to help the firm decrease the problem. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN