Residents in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, are facing water shortages as a result of rationing imposed by authorities due to a drop in the level of the city’s main water source, the Ruvu River.
Water authorities in Dar es Salaam have announced that they will shut off piped water to the city’s nearly 6 million residents every other day until water levels recover. However, rain has been scarce in Tanzania, as well as in neighboring East African countries, and meteorologists are predicting a prolonged dry season.
That is bad news for Elizabeth Maemo, who used to make a lot of money from her small street restaurant in Dar es Salaam. She is now losing money as a result of the drought and the rise in water prices.
She stated that right now, “I buy one bucket for 700 shillings and use approximately 15 gallons per day. I can say that water scarcity has had a significant impact on my business.” “I have lost many customers because they have no faith in the water I am using,” Maemo, 52, added.
The water supply from the Ruvu River has been reduced from 466 million liters per day to approximately 300 million liters per day, whereas the city normally consumes an estimated 500 million liters per day.
Residents now rely on a local network of boreholes and wells for water. Those without a nearby source of water are forced to buy from private vendors, and with demand high and supply low, prices have risen.
Suphian Msofe, a private vendor, stated that “This is the first time I’ve made a significant profit in the six years I’ve been delivering water throughout Dar es Salaam. However, the water that we sell is salty and unfit for human consumption. It can at the very least be used for cooking and washing.”
With global warming causing frequent heat waves, activists argue that the city requires a long-term solution to its water problems.
Frowim Mshumbus is an environmental activist with the One Planet network who advocates for climate change action. He claims that commercial activity along the Ruvu River has significantly contributed to lower water levels. “What I believe should be done to address the issues,” he says, “is to educate people about the importance of these water sources and the best ways to protect them.”
