The Dar es Salaam Water and Sanitation Authority (DAWASA) has commenced rationing water in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam following a drought-induced drop in water levels from its primary source, the Ruvu river.
About 5.5 million city residents will go without pipe-borne water for 24 hours on alternating days.
“The timetable will be updated every week according to how the change of weather increases or decreases the water levels,” according to the water officials.
Like most of its East African neighbours, Tanzania is experiencing little rainfall, with meteorologists warning that the prolonged dry spell will continue for a while.
Although the city consumes an estimated 500 million litres a day, DAWASA says water supply from the Ruvu has dropped from 466 million to about 300 million litres a day.
“We are all aware that most areas received poor rains last season and that the current season has been delayed,” Dar es Salaam Governor Amos Makalla said earlier this week.
“Everyone should understand that this is beyond the government’s control.”
Four failed rainy seasons have wiped out crops and livestock in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia in the same region hit by the worst drought in four decades.