Introduction
The Water Sector in Tanzania includes; water resources management, rural water supply and sanitation and urban water supply and sewerage. The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) has the mandate to regulate Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Authorities (“the Authorities”) providing services in municipalities and small towns in Tanzania. The National Water Policy provides guidance on priority areas for inter-sectoral development planning, resource management and water utilisation.
Targets have been set in the Water Sector to be achieved by 2009; from the revised Poverty Reduction Strategy, these are: raising the proportion of rural population that has access to safe and clean water from 53% in June 2003 to 60% by 2006, and to 65% by 2009; raising the proportion of urban population with access to safe and clean water from 73% in June 2003 to 78% by 2006, and to 90% by 2009; raising sewerage service coverage from 17% in 2004 to 25% by 2006, and to 30% by 2009.
Legislation
Regulation of the water supply and sewerage service providers is carried by making use of the EWURA Act, Cap 414; Water (Utilisation and Control) Act, Cap 331 ; the Waterworks Act, Cap 272; Dar es Salaam Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Act, Cap 273 ; and GNN. 133 of 2006 Waterworks (Notification of procedure of Service) Notice .
Regulated Services
Minister of Water by GNN 61/1998 declared the Authorities in the following categories:
- Category A - Authorities which can meet all of their direct costs of operation and maintenance (O&M) and part of investment costs;
- Category B - Authorities which can meet all of their direct costs as for Category A except part of electricity bills; and
- Category C - Authorities which can meet all of their direct costs as of Category A except personnel costs for permanent employed staff and electricity bills.
EWURA issues licences to city, municipal and town Authorities with one year term ending on 30 thJune 2008. The licence term is set to match with the term stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Water and the Authorities . Licences are also issued to small town Authorities, these licences will have term of two years ending 30 th June 2009. Licence application forms, rules, regulations and guidelines can be downloaded as indicated for appropriate usage.
Technical and Economic Regulation
EWURA is responsible for carrying out technical and economic regulation in the water sector. Technical regulation include benchmarking standards; code of practice; levels of investments; planning and procurements for major projects; heath, safety and environmental issues. Economic regulations include but not limited to reviewing and setting rates and charges. Procedure for tariff application and Tariff Review Guidelines can be downloaded as indicated for appropriate usage. Water Utilities Information System (MajIs) is one of the tools used by EWURA to monitor monthly and annual performance of the Authorities. |
