Fifteen community water projects costing a total of Sh15 billion (R98 million) are underway in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to provide residents with access to clean water.

The projects will make a reliable supply of safe and clean water accessible to residents who are not directly connected to the main supply lines of the Dar es Salaam Water and Sewage Authority (DAWASA). The aim is to ensure that 50% of the population has access to clean and safe water by 2015.

The projects are deep wells situated in close proximity to residential areas to provide a reliable supply of water to schools, dispensaries, markets, police stations, and domestic users. Six wells are situated in Temeke, five in Ilala and four in Kinondoni. Ten of the wells have been completed and the remaining five are close to completion. The wells range between 65 and 120 m in depth, and the project, which has 16 storage tanks and 181 dripping points, has a total supply capacity of 330 000 litres per hour.

The projects were jointly funded by the government of Tanzania which provided over Sh600 million, and Belgium and the European Union each contributed over Sh7 billion.

However, the project report presented at the launch identified several challenges which inhibit the smooth running of the water projects. These include frequent power interruptions, destruction of the infrastructure, and a lack of legal recognition of the committees for effective operation.