Community awareness on water pollution and its effects on health development in urban Tanzania: a case of Tabata and Kiwalani Wards in Ilala District Dar es Salaam

The study investigated community awareness on the problem of water pollution and established its relationship to development in urban Tanzania focusing on a case study of Ilala Municipal in Dar es Salaam region. The main objective of this study was to establish whether community awareness and water pollution have a strong influence on socio-economic development. A sample of 160 respondents including both (men and women community members) from Tabata and Kiwalani wards in Ilala district were randomly selected and interviewed in the study. Data was collected through questionnaire, focus group discussions, participant observation and documentary reviews. Findings from the study revealed that water pollution has been a major problem facing most urban people. Community ignorance on effects of water pollution has resulted in tremendous ill health, which, in turn, has negative consequences on development. Moreover, findings revealed that frequent endemic waterborne diseases in the study area were found to be a result of lack of awareness on water pollution. Indeed, the majority of respondents (97.5%) clearly indicated that they used water from wells and bore holes due to lack of tap water. Worse still, they reported that due to poverty, they rely on dug wells that are so close to pit latrines and drink water without boiling. Likewise, study findings revealed that the majority of community members have little knowledge on what causes water pollution. It is suggested that the government should treat ground water. Further research concerning water quality should be done in Dar es Salaam region and other parts of the country. Also people to be given feed back after research concerning water quality.