MWE Correspondent
The Dar es Salaam Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (DAWASA) has urged businesses that depend heavily on water, including car washes, brick makers and gardening operators, to play a greater role in reducing water losses and protecting water supply infrastructure.
The call was made during an awareness meeting organised to educate water-dependent businesses on responsible water use, service laws and procedures, as well as the importance of reporting water leaks and infrastructure damage at an early stage.
Speaking during the meeting, DAWASA Legal Officer Ezekiel Lwenge said sustainable access to water requires customers to use the service in accordance with established laws and regulations.
He urged customers to avoid illegal connections, tampering with water meters and opening, relocating or interfering with water service equipment without authorisation from DAWASA.
Lwenge warned that damaging or interfering with water infrastructure could disrupt services for large numbers of residents who depend on the same network.
According to DAWASA, businesses whose daily operations rely on water have an important role to play in identifying problems that could contribute to unnecessary water losses.
DAWASA Kawe Regional Manager Alex Ng’wandu said the businesses have a significant opportunity to support efforts to reduce water losses because of their heavy dependence on water services.
He urged business operators to promptly notify DAWASA whenever they identify leaking pipes, damaged infrastructure, illegal water use or other challenges that could affect service delivery.
“Water is important for production and business activities. Without water, many businesses cannot continue operating, so it is important for everyone to participate in protecting this resource,” Ng’wandu said.
The awareness campaign also brought together gardening businesses and car wash operators, among other water-dependent enterprises.
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Jafari Mohammed, Chairman of Garden Traders from Mbezi Beach Africana, said the education had helped business operators better understand proper water use and the importance of protecting water infrastructure.
He said businesses could become part of the solution to reducing water losses by reporting infrastructure problems as soon as they are detected.
Juma Lazaro, a car wash operator from Kinondoni Mkwajuni, thanked DAWASA for providing education on the laws and procedures governing the use of water services.
The initiative highlights the importance of cooperation between water authorities and commercial users in protecting infrastructure, improving service reliability and ensuring that available water resources are used responsibly.
DAWASA continues to emphasise responsible water use and protection of water infrastructure as part of efforts to improve the reliability and sustainability of water services in Dar es Salaam.
Water losses can occur through leaking infrastructure, damaged networks, illegal connections and other forms of unauthorised use. Early reporting by customers can help the authority identify problems and undertake corrective measures before they affect a larger section of the network.
For businesses such as car washes, gardening enterprises and brick makers, reliable water supplies are closely linked to their daily operations. DAWASA’s engagement with these groups therefore provides an opportunity to strengthen awareness of service regulations while encouraging customers to participate in protecting the water network.
The authority is also urging customers to use water responsibly and seek approval before making any changes to their water connections or service equipment.
