The Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority DAWASA has launched a 90-day special operation aimed at reducing water losses across Dar es Salaam and Coast (Pwani) regions as part of strengthened efforts to improve service delivery, enhance efficiency of infrastructure, and ensure more reliable access to clean and safe water for residents.
The initiative is part of the authority’s broader long-term strategy to cut water losses to 20 percent by 2030, aligning with internationally accepted standards in the water sector.
Speaking during the official launch of the operation, DAWASA Chief Executive Officer Eng. Mkama Bwire announced that the next three months will be dedicated to intensive interventions targeting leakages, illegal connections, and ageing infrastructure that has been contributing significantly to water wastage in various service areas.
He noted that the authority is already rolling out rehabilitation works, including replacement of old and damaged pipelines, as well as rapid response repairs in identified hotspot zones.
Eng. Bwire referenced findings by the Controller and Auditor General Controller and Auditor General of Tanzania, which indicated that water losses in many utilities across the country have reached about 35 percent, a level he described as unsustainable and costly to both service providers and consumers.
He emphasized that DAWASA has now moved to take decisive action through the 90-day targeted campaign to reverse the trend and strengthen accountability in water distribution systems.
He further stressed that the success of the operation will heavily depend on collaboration between DAWASA and the public.
The authority plans to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including water users and non-users, local leaders, community groups, and informal sector actors such as bodaboda operators and food vendors, to help identify and report leakages and other forms of water loss.
Incentives will also be introduced for individuals who provide credible information that leads to the detection and repair of major leaks or illegal connections.
DAWASA also appealed to residents to act as key partners in safeguarding water infrastructure, urging them to promptly report any visible leaks, pipe bursts, or suspicious water connections in their neighborhoods.
According to the authority, community participation is essential in achieving faster response times and reducing the scale of losses currently experienced in the system.
The 90-day operation is expected to serve as a critical milestone in DAWASA’s reform agenda, focusing not only on immediate repairs but also on improving monitoring systems, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and enhancing overall operational efficiency.
The authority reiterated its commitment to ensuring that residents in Dar es Salaam and Pwani regions receive more reliable water services while safeguarding the long-term sustainability of water resources.
