Tanzanian Water Project

The Budekwa area in Tanzania suffers from a critical shortage of water, where currently only 18% of households have access to safe and clean water. AuCom is funding a project in a joint effort from World Vision, the Government of Tanzania, the local District Council, and the people of Budekwa to provide safe water to 1,373 households.

The Budekwa Area Development Programme (ADP) is situated in Mwagala Division, Maswa District in Tanzania’s Shinyanga Region. Its eight villages cover an area of 345km² and have a total population of over 26,350 people.

In this culture, the women or girls collect water, which may take over 2 hours. This puts pressure on schooling and household tasks each day. The average household of 6 people requires 10 litres per person per day, but most can only collect 40 litres a day.

	Budekwa locals celebrate with AuCom CEO Brent Archer (right) and World Vision's Brent Morgan (left) at the dedication of one of 117 water wells that will be constructed over the next two years to bring fresh water to more than 1,300 households in an area development programme in northern Tanzania
	Finding water before
	Finding water after

Here is a story of the difference it has made for one family:

For Geni Jackson (9 years old) at Bushitala Primary School water was an ever-present source of conflict. Completing a week without a quarrel over water – whether between her parents, teachers or sisters – was not easy.  “My parents used to awake me early for water searching and fetching everyday before I go to school. I would often quarrel with my sisters about who would get the water as I did not want to fetch water in the early morning”.

Finding good water was not easy and would take a long time and Geni was often late for school.  “My grades were not good and my teachers were always making me do more but I was often tired due to collecting water.  To me water is just conflict and it made me sad”.

However, this year things have changed.  In August a new shallow well was installed in Geni’s village through the World Vision Area Development Programme in Budekwa.  “I am happy now”, beams Geni.  “There is no more conflict with my parents and sisters because I am able to fetch water easily and at reasonable time without searching here and there. My teachers have said I am not tired in class now. The new well has made my life so much more happier!’’. 

The Tanzanian government aims to ensure every household has access to water with a maximum distance of 400m.  To quote the Tanzanian Poverty Reductions Strategy “The contribution of the water sector to poverty reduction is through reduction of time spent in fetching water, improved health standards, creating a conducive environment for increasing school attendance and increased opportunity for social economic activities.

Started in January 2008, the project supported by AuCom has constructed 31 protected shallow wells to a depth of 10-20m to reduce water collection time to less than 30 minutes across the area. Now these wells serve 1,550 households.  This is just one initiative for the area.

• The local Council is fully supportive of the project and is providing technical support when required.
• The district water engineer’s office certifies all wells before being handed over to the community.
• 31 water user groups have been trained as part of the project – one for each well.
• A local person has been trained as a pump technician for each well
• The seven village water committees have established water by-laws in order to ensure long-term sustainability of the wells.