Water levels in the Ruvu River are expected to continue declining due to insufficient rainfall in the Uluguru Mountains, raising concerns about potential shortages for various water users.
A forecast issued by the Wami/Ruvu Basin Water Board for October 15 to 25, 2026, warns that water levels will remain below the long-term average recorded between 2009 and 2024.
The board attributes the projected decline to inadequate rainfall in the Uluguru Mountains, which are the source of the Ruvu River.
The forecast warns that falling water levels could lead to water shortages across several sectors, including agriculture, livestock keeping, fishing, construction, mining, tourism, industry and water supply services.
The report cites water demand of 6,000 litres per second but does not specify whether the figure represents total demand across all sectors or demand for a particular category of users.
It also does not provide the river’s current flow rate, making it difficult to establish the extent of any gap between available water and demand.
The board has urged water users across the affected sectors to use available supplies efficiently as the river’s water levels continue to decline.
In its advisory, the board specifically called on stakeholders in agriculture, construction, mining, tourism, livestock keeping and fishing, alongside water supply and sanitation authorities, to make efficient use of the available water.
The warning highlights the importance of monitoring river flows, particularly as rainfall conditions in the Uluguru Mountains influence the amount of water reaching the Ruvu River.
The board said it would continue issuing water availability forecasts every 10 days to keep stakeholders informed about changes in river levels and enable them to take precautionary measures.
The forecasts are intended to help water users plan their activities in response to fluctuations in water availability.
The latest outlook, covering the period to October 25, underscores the need for careful water management as the river’s projected levels remain below the historical average.