Informal water service provision: a case study of Dar es Salaam region

In the city of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, 70% of households have no direct access to water supply services from Dar es Salaam Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DAWASCO). Peri-urban areas are the most affected and are characterized as being both underserviced and un-serviced. Residents in these areas have resorted to alternative water service options including those of informal water service Providers (IWSPs). This study investigated the impact of informal water service provision in Dar es Salaam city through analysis of IWSPs contribution to water services management, service quality, service hours, service coverage distances that relate to the functions of IWSPs in the water sector. The study focused on three types of IWSPs including Pushcart Operators (PCOs), Water-Tanker/Trucks Operators (WTOs) and Independent-Piped-network Operators (IPNOs). The study was conducted in four areas within the city namely: Bunju, Goba, Tandika - Yombo and Vingunguti. Service indicators of IWSPs in the four areas were analyzed using data obtained through focus group discussions, interviews, observations, and documentation review. Results had established that there were 142 IWSPs serving 20,560 households with 160,368 people in the study areas. They (IWSPs) are an indispensable source of access to water to 57.7% of households in the periurban. It was further established that 70% of IWSPs provided water from unregulated and unprotected sources most of which were surrounded by pit latrines and garages. One PCO provided 0.5 to 5 m3 of water in a day; one WTO provided 5 to 30 m3 and one IPNO provided 20 to 33 m3 per day. Hours of water supply in a day ranged from 6 to 14 for PCOs, 10 to 14 for WTOs and 16 to 20 for IPOs with service coverage of 3 km, 20 km and 3 km respectively. Households served were 17 to 60 for a PCO, 30 to 70 for a WTO and 12 to 72 for an IPNO. Water service average charges were Tsh 200 -400/= per 20 liters by PCOs, Tsh 100/= per 20 liters by IPNOs, and Tshs. 12,000/ per 1000liters by WTOs. It was furthermore established that 53% of total unaccounted for water by DAWASCO was linked to the informal services of IWSPs. Regulating and monitoring IWSPs was seen to be a permanent approach towards better services by DAWASCO.