CRS donates 700m/- to district water project

Sunday News Reporter

AN international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has handed over 700m/- to a project known as R3W Water Project in Karatu District, Arusha Region to assist over 12,000 residents have access to reliable water.

The NGO-Catholic Relief Services (CRS) handed over the sum through the project to Endamarariek/Endabash Water Supply (ENDAWASU) and Karatu Village Water Supply (KAVIWASU) in two communities which have been facing severe water woes in the district.

Presiding over the handover, the R3W Project Manager, Engineer Ephraim Tonya said: “The assistance was aimed at addressing two main challenges which affect sustainability of rural water projects in the area.

These are non-functionality and mismanagement of water revenue in the water supply schemes.” Eng Tonya said that the project with the funding from the UK Aid through the Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF) was helping the CRS and its partners to construct also 13 kilometre water supply pipes to provide water to Mjinikati, Mazingira Bora, Bomani and Sabato villagers.

He said through the funds, the CRS has constructed two deep boreholes, installed two solar pumping stations, and built 20 water kiosks with power solar as well as two large storage tanks of 22,500 litres and 45,000 litres respectively.

“This is an integrated prepaid system that offers a closed system and revenue stream and make utilities… the funds in advance contribute efficiently and help the technical team to address the challenges facing the schemes,” he said.

Speaking during the handing over event, the KAVIWASU Manager, Mr Stephen Siay said: “But with this innovation, KAVIWASU managed to freely donate one deep borehole of 10,000 litres per hour capacity, and built a reliable fence for the project’s solar pumping station.

The project was designed for 22,500 litres, but KAVIWASU invested their own resources to make it 45,000 litres.” HDIF Deputy Team Leader, Joseph Manirakiza, said that the UK aid through the HDIF was keen to catalyse innovations that contribute towards alleviating key human developing challenges, where water shortage was one of them.