Water provision from lake Victoria in the wake of increased supply costs: a case study of Musoma Municipality

The study sought to investigate piped water supply problems encountered by Musoma Municipality residents in the wake of increased water supply costs (caused by pollution and falling levels in Lake Victoria) by Musoma Urban Water and Sanitation Authority (MUWASA). The study assessed quality inadequacy, quantity insufficiency; costs incurred to the use of piped water supplied to households understand that piped water supplied by the authority cannot be used for drinking directly without additional treatment. Water has to be boiled or added with a chemical. Most households were dissatisfied with the quantity of water supplied. Some fetched water directly from Lake Victoria to supplement domestic water requirements. Respondents revealed that in the past three years or so the piped water supply has been irregular. They also said that the costs were high. MUWASA was ill – equipped to provide sufficient safe clean drinking water to the people, especially the poor. Finally, this study concludes that the government should design, give sufficient funds for supporting programmes for water and sanitation, reinforce integrated water resources management and pursue grants or soft loans to finance UWSAS to improve their infrastructure.