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 mitigatin
