The Dar es Salaam Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (DAWASA) has called on businesses that rely heavily on water, including car washers, brick makers and flower sellers, to help curb water losses by reporting leaks, damaged infrastructure and illegal connections.
The authority says the involvement of water-dependent businesses is important because their daily activities put them in regular contact with the water network, giving them an opportunity to identify problems before they escalate and affect wider areas.
The call was made during an awareness meeting with traders on proper water use, laws governing water services and procedures for reporting leaks and damage to DAWASA infrastructure.
DAWASA Legal Officer Ezekiel Lwenge said reliable water services required customers to comply with established laws and regulations.
He cautioned customers against illegal connections, tampering with water meters or opening, relocating or interfering with service equipment without DAWASA's approval.
Mr Lwenge said unauthorised interference with the network could damage infrastructure and disrupt water supplies to other customers.
“Interfering with water infrastructure can cause service disruptions for many people who depend on the same network,” he said.
DAWASA Kawe Regional Manager Alex Ng'wandu said businesses that depend on water have an important role to play in reducing losses because they are among the regular users of the service.
He urged traders to promptly report leaking pipes, damaged infrastructure, illegal connections and other incidents that could affect water supply.
“Water is important for production and business activities. Without water, many businesses cannot operate, so it is important for everyone to help protect this resource,” Mr Ng'wandu said.
He said timely reporting would enable DAWASA to respond to problems before they result in greater water losses or wider disruptions to customers.
For traders, the issue also has a direct business impact, particularly for activities such as car washing, gardening and brick making where water is an essential production input.
Jafari Mohammed, chairman of the Mbezi Beach Africana Gardeners' Association, said the meeting had helped traders understand the importance of using water properly and protecting DAWASA infrastructure.
He said traders could contribute to reducing water losses by reporting leaks and other problems as soon as they were identified.
“We can be part of the solution by reporting problems early whenever we notice them,” Mr Mohammed said.
Juma Lazaro, a car-wash operator from Kinondoni Mkwajuni, thanked DAWASA for educating traders about the laws and procedures governing water services.
He said the information would help businesses understand their responsibilities as water users.
The engagement highlights the growing need for water users to play a role in protecting infrastructure as DAWASA works to maintain reliable supplies to households and businesses across Dar es Salaam.
For water-dependent traders, protecting the network also means protecting the continuity of their own businesses, making early reporting of leaks, damage and illegal connections both a public responsibility and an economic interest.