The Ruvu River, Dar es Salaam’s primary source of water, dried up on Thursday, causing the Tanzanian government to ration water in the nation’s capital city.
The 5.5 million people who live in the city on the Indian Ocean would be without running water for 24 hours on alternating days, according to the Dar es Salaam Water and Sanitation Authority (DAWASA).
According to how a change in the weather would affect the rise or fall of the water levels, the schedule will be adjusted every week, said DAWASA.
Like its neighbors in East Africa, Tanzania is experiencing little rainfall, and meteorologists have warned that the protracted dry season would persist.
According to water officials, the Ruvu River’s daily water supply has decreased from 466 million liters to roughly 300 million liters, while the city uses 500 million liters daily.
“We are all aware that most areas experienced poor rains last season and the current season has been delayed,” Dar es Salaam governor Amos Makalla said recently.
“Everyone should understand that this is beyond the control of the government,” he added.
Since late 2020, four unsuccessful rainy seasons have contributed to the worst drought in at least 40 years, killing millions of animals, ruining crops, and driving parts of Tanzania’s neighbors, Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia, to the brink of hunger.
