FsctorS Affecting Household,s Accessibility of Water Project in Tanzania

Abstract

The enactment of the Water in February 1999 of the water laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act was a significant legislative piece in the water and sewerage sector, the thrust of the Act is geared toward facilitation of Private Sector Participation in the water supply and sewerage in Tanzania. Though some challenges still exist, considerable progress has been made in the management of resources and provision of water services. Almost a decade later, the challenges facing informal settlements continue to exist. The ultimate goal of the study was to evaluate the different factors affecting households' accessibility to water services in Tanzania. The objectives of the study were to assess households' participation in the management of water supply projects and to establish effective strategies for households' accessibility to water supply. The study also sought to examine the awareness and willingness of households to contribute to the operational and maintenance costs. The study adopted qualitative approaches to data collection and analysis. This involved the administration of structured and open-ended questionnaires. A sample size of 395 randomly selected households and different water vendors operating in the KakonkoDistrict were selected to supplement the data and information collected through the questionnaire. The study also revealed challenges related to the poor quality of water supplied to households. In relation to the cost of water, over ninety percent of households spent about one fifth of their monthly income on water. The study recommends that community engagement strategies be enhanced. Efforts should be made to address the potential gaps identified in acknowledging water initiatives among subsets within the community. Increased awareness campaigns are crucial to motivate households and bridge the existing gaps, especially considering the limitations related to financial constraints highlighted by key informants. Moreover, efforts should focus on understanding and mitigating socio-economic factors thatinfluence households' willingness to support water proj