Underground water drainage systems underway in the country

THE government has embarked on various water and sanitation projects to expand the country’s sewerage network. Minister for Water and Irrigation, Engineer Isack Kamwelwe said this in Dar es Salaam yesterday when he met with representatives from French Development Agency (AFD). AFD is funding water access and sanitation projects in various regions in the country. The meeting was meant to discuss how both parties could work together for smooth implementation of the projects. Eng Kamwelwe admitted that the country’s sewerage network has not exceeded 20 per cent and the government was currently implementing various wastewater projects to expand the system. “The sewerage network is still low in the country, for Dar es Salam the sewerage infrastructure is only 10 per cent while at the country level we have not exceeded 20 per cent,” the Minister said. He said that the government has now decided that water projects must be implemented parallel with sanitation schemes. The Minister said that there are water access projects which involved sewerage infrastructure carried out in Lindi, Rukwa in Sumbawanga, Kigoma, Bukoba, Musoma and Mwanza. He noted that the new water project which will be implemented in Shinyanga region will also include the installation of waste water system.  Eng Kamwelewe further observed that the French government had pledged to provide 135 million Euro for the completion of sanitation projects in Dar es Salaam after completing the major water projects in Upper and Lower Ruvu which are now producing 502 liters and water wells at Mpera and Kimbiji that produce 260 liters. AFD Country Representative, Mr Emmanuel Baudran said that the sanitation project in Dar es Salaam will be the biggest scheme funded by his government. He assured the minister that his government will continue to work closely with Tanzania in implementing various water and sanitation projects. Mr Baudran said his agency is also ready to support other new projects including the sanitation project in Dodoma.