About 6,500 residents of Luhanga Street in Kisukuru Ward, Ilala District, are expected to benefit from a water supply project aimed at addressing shortages caused by population growth and rising demand.
The project has moved towards implementation following the delivery of water pipes by the Dar es Salaam Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (Dawasa), paving the way for the construction and expansion of the distribution network.
The development is expected to improve access to reliable and clean water for households in an area where growing population has put pressure on existing infrastructure.
A resident of Luhanga, Ms Semeni Adam, welcomed the delivery of the pipes, saying it marked an important step towards resolving the area's persistent water challenges.
"Water supply in our street used to be reliable, but following an increase in the population, access has become difficult because of rising demand," she said.
She said the project would help address the growing needs of residents, who have experienced difficulties accessing sufficient water as the neighbourhood expands.
Dawasa Tabata Regional Service Manager, Mr Gilbert Massawe, said the authority was committed to upgrading and replacing water infrastructure in Luhanga to meet both current and future demand.
He said pipes measuring eight inches and six inches in diameter had already been delivered to the area ahead of the implementation of the project.
According to him, the planned works involve the installation of more than 3.2 kilometres of water distribution network.
The expansion is expected to strengthen the capacity of the existing system and improve water distribution to households.
Luhanga Street Chairperson, Ms Lukresia Msuya, thanked the government, through Dawasa, for responding to residents' concerns over unreliable water supply.
She urged residents to cooperate with the authority during implementation and protect the infrastructure once the project is completed.
Ms Msuya said the government had initially considered drilling boreholes to improve water availability, but the area's geological conditions made the option unsuitable, prompting the adoption of an alternative solution through the extension of the water network.
"Residents of Luhanga should cooperate in implementing this project. The government initially planned to drill boreholes to improve water availability, but because the conditions in the area were not favourable, it opted for an alternative project. We should therefore protect this infrastructure," she said.
The project highlights the need to expand water infrastructure in rapidly growing urban neighbourhoods, where population increases can outpace the capacity of existing distribution systems.
Its success will depend not only on completing the planned network but also on ensuring that the expanded infrastructure delivers a reliable supply to the approximately 6,500 intended beneficiaries.