PRESIDENT JAKAYA KIKWETE INAUGURATES IRINGA URBAN WATER PROJECT

PRESIDENT JAKAYA KIKWETE INAUGURATES IRINGA URBAN WATER PROJECT

TODAY President Jakaya Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania has inaugurated the Iringa Urban Water Project that is expected to benefit over 170,000 people from Iringa town, neighbouring communities and villages. The function was held at Ndiuka within the Iringa Municipality.

The project has cost a total of Euro 33,458,000 (About Tshs. 70 billion) to implement through the Iringa Urban Water Supply Authority (IRUWASA). Of these funds Euro 17,076,000 (About Tshs. 35 billion) came from the European Union and the rest came from the Water Basket, the Federal Republic of Germany and IRUWASA. 

The work involved the construction of a new water intake at the Little Ruaha River, water treatment plant, digging of water reservoir, laying down of distribution transmission and sewer pipelines, rehabilitation and extension of waste water treatment ponds.

The Iringa Urban Water Supply project was conceived way back in June 2003 when the European Union signed an agreement with the Government of Tanzania to finance a Water Supply Programme for three regional/urban centres, namely Iringa, Mwanza and Mbeya. This programme was to be financed jointly by the European Union and the Federal Republic of Germany. The German Development Cooperation through its implementing agency KfW Development Bank supported the Urban Water and Sewerage  Utilities in the implementation of the two phases of the programme.

The purpose of the Water Supply Programme was to ensure improved access to reliable and affordable water supply and wastewater services for the people by supporting the Urban Water Supply Authorities in the three regions. Almost one million water users in Mwanza, Iringa and Mbeya were expected to benefit directly from the Programme. President Kikwete commended support by the European Union, its members states and other development donors in assisting Tanzania to improve essential services to its people including improved access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

The Water Supply Programme underscores EU’s commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on water undertaken by the participants during the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in September 2002. The Millennium Development Goals aim to cut by half the number of people living without drinking water and basic sanitation by the year 2015.

"The European Union believes that access to improved water and sanitation facilities leads to improved health as targeted under the MDGs. As the world leading donor contributing with around 56 percent of the total global aid, the European Union remains firmly committed to support the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015," said the EU Ambassador to Tanzania, Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi in a speech read on his behalf by the Head of Infrastructure Section of the EU Delegation to Tanzania

Adam Grodzicki.

The Head of Cooperation of the German Embassy, Gisela Habel, welcomed the successful conclusion of the Iringa water project: “The citizens of Iringa city will now feel the impacts on improved water supply and sanitation. Now it is on Iringa Urban Water Supply and Serwerage Authority (IRUWASA) to take the responsibility for the sustainable and safe operation of these facilities. This implies providing good service to customers in order to secure income for the utility.”