CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THE

SUSTAINABILITY OF RURAL WATER SUPPLY

SERVICES IN TANZANIA

A Case Study of Bunda District

Tanu Ibrahim Deule

A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements

for the Degree of Master in Integrated Water Resources Management
of the University of Dar es Salaam

University of Dar es Salaam

November 2010
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ABSTRACT
Abstract

Water services delivery projects in rural settlements of Tanzania are not sustained. It

is estimated 30% of rural water systems are not functioning properly countrywide

and the said functional are questionable (NAWAPO, 2002). Poor operations and

maintenance has exacerbated low and inadequate water service coverage. And this

study aimed to characterize, investigate constraints, identify opportunities and

determine Sustainability Index for rural water supply services. The approach to

achieve these objectives was; data collection for the four dimensions namely;

technical, institutional, financial & Social/Environment, processing and analyzing

them. Tools administered were; questionnaires, interviews, literature review and

physical observations. Identified constraints were analyzed using MS Excel and

SPSS version 11.5. Weighted table for MCA was used to assess Sustainability Index

After characterization it was found out that 60% uses HPs and the rest uses piped

and springs. Water coverage is 47.19%, there is no perennial river and Lake Victoria

is excellent source to 55% of the villages. Eight opportunities were identified, and a

total of thirty five constraints: Technical (15), financial (8), Institutional (7),

Social/Environment (5) and the cross-cutting issue of abject poverty that distresses

communities’ ability to pay for improved water services. Sustainability index was

57.5% less than 70%, meaning water supply services not sustainable. On average,

all four dimensions could not score well with social/environment dimension scoring

even less. The study recommends strengthening the four ways partnership between

Central Government, District Council, User Communities and Private Sector in

operating and managing rural water supply services as the antidote to sustainability.