Arusha to upgrade water supply

The Arusha Urban Water Supply Authority (AUWSA) plans to invest $158 million to upgrade its water services to meet increasing demand.

The water authority says it needs at least five years to upgrade the city's system which involves sinking new wells, identifying alternative sources, repairing dilapidated pipelines, and improving the drainage system.

The authority hopes to pipe water from the fresh-water Lake Duluti located east of the city off the Arusha-Himo road in the Meru district, and also plans to revive nine old wells that were abandoned in 1980.

There are about half a million people living in the city and the current lack of water was exasperated by Arusha's recent promotion from municipality to city status. The expanded area increased the need for water from an initial 53,000 cubic litres per day to its present requirement of 93,000 cubic litres.

The city’s water authority produces some 45,000 cubic litres of water daily but the ongoing dry spell has seen water production fall to 32,000 cubic litres.