Tanzania: Church Tackles Nkoaranga Water Blues

The acute shortage of water which normally affects the residents of Nkoaranga area in Arumeru district will soon be over following the completion of a Sh. 74 million water project, local officials said.

This was revealed last weekend by Mr. Loth Nnko, the acting executive secretary of the Meru Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) when he addressed the villagers.

He said the project was financed by the church in collaboration with the Nkoaranga Lutheran Hospital after realizing that the people living there were forced to travel long distances to fetch the precious liquid especially during the dry seasons.

He explained that the project would be completed in the next two months and that it has been prompted by the deterioration of the water supply infrastructure in the area which was put in place many years ago.

Mr. Nnko stated that under the project, water pipes would be laid down from the slopes of Mt. Meru which is also the source of many rivers and streams which flow into the lowlands, especially to the south east of the mountain.

The official explained that because of the decayed infrastructure, water which used to reach many families could not be tapped and is ‘lost’ downstream, leaving the targeted users without it.

“We as the church have been forced to make a quick intervention in this because we cannot standby while the villagers are having problems with water for their daily use. We will ensure it is completed within two months”, he reiterated.

The church official explained that the water project would benefit all families within the expansive village which is located about five kilometres from the Arusha-Moshi highway where the Lutheran Hospital also stands.

He added that the Meru Diocese was still searching for additional water sources on the slopes of the giant mountain because of the growing demand given the rising population in the district which is the most densely populated in Arusha region.

He, however, called on the residents of the area to ensure that they cooperated well with the firm which has been contracted to execute the project and that there should be no acts of vandalism at the sites.