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According to population and housing census (2002) 33 percent of the total private households used protected wells as the main source of drinking water. While 29 percent of the rural households used unprotected wells, 62 percent of the urban households used protected wells as their main source of drinking water. However, 26 percent of the rural households also used protected wells.
Between 1980s and 1995/96 NORAD assisted Rukwa Region in the water sector. By mid 90's the provision of water services reached 72% coverage. In the year 2004 the coverage of water services had dropped to 56% of the total population served with water and 28.8 per cent of those who are served with safe and clean water respectively due to drought. So far the region has 51 gravity projects, 1,139 bore halls and shallow wells, 9 diesel pumps, 2 hydrams and 40 protected water sources.
Rukwa Region has a total number of 368 villages and a population of over one million. As seen in the Table 28 below, various water schemes exist in these villages but many of them not functioning due to various reasons including drying up of water sources, deterioration due to old age, lack of sufficient funds for operation and maintenance etc. At present the water supply service level in the villages in less than 50 percent.
Table 28 - Present Situations of Water Schemes in Rukwa Region
District |
Type of water scheme |
Total schemes |
Functioning water schemes |
Remarks |
S'wanga Urban |
Gravity
Deep Boreholes
Shallow wells
Protected springs
Pumping schemes |
12
48
63
23
1 |
09
35
15
-
- |
- Some streams have dried up
- O&M Problems
- Most of the wells have dried up
- Drought |
S'wanga Rural |
Gravity
Boreholes
Shallow wells
Protected springs
Pumping schemes |
22
174
199
-
2 |
15
102
90
-
2 |
Some streams have dried up
Break down of Some pumps
Shallow wells have dried up |
Mpanda |
Gravity
Boreholes
Shallow wells
Protected springs
Pumping schemes |
03
510
193
1
6 |
3
378
115
1
3 |
- pumps breakdown
- Some wells has dried up.
- Dried up due to drought
- |
Nkasi |
Gravity
Boreholes
Shallow wells
Protected springs
Pumping schemes |
09
217
151
-
8 |
08
156
106
-
4 |
- Low Production due to drought.
- Break down of old pumps.
- Drying up. |
Opportunities
• Existence of water source in various areas of the region;
There are water sources, which can be used as gravity schemes e.g. Ikolongo springs, Rukwa hills and Msanginya group water supply, etc.
• Water harvesting
The rainfall ranges between 900 t0 1,200 mm and hence it is possible to harvest rain water for domestic and agricultural purposes
Obstacles
• Limited budget for rehabilitation of existing wells and establishment of new ones;
• Obsolete nature of equipment for water wells digging;
• Destruction of water sources in various areas.
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