Tanzania: Ewura Counsels Water Authorities

ENERGY and Water Utilities Regulatory Authorities (EWURA) Consumer Consultative Council (EWURA-CCC) has advised water and sewerage authorities to introduce an efficient system of registering complaints from their clients.

The council’s Executive Secretary, Mr Goodluck Mmari, said in Dar es Salaam early this week that the estimated billing system used by Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Corporation (Dawasco) has brought a number of complaints from costumers.Some have complained that they continue to receiving water bills despite their metres being disconnected after failing to pay their bills.

“Many consumers complain that the estimated water bills issued to customers who already have water metres installed in their houses are overcharging them.”It is high time authorities such as Dawasco should introduce an information desk where consumers could get information. The information desks will help consumers to understand the authorities’ operations and how their complaints are dealt with,” stressed Mr Mmari.

He said despite a budget allocation for public education that exists in public corporations for many years, it is unfortunate that some authorities do not prioritize education. “It should be understood that public education is one of the basic rights of all water consumers and not charity,” he noted.

He mentioned other complaints from the public as failure by authorities to expand their infrastructure in order to cope with the increasing population in different areas of the country.”Basically the water and sewerage services should cope with both cities and town growth,” said Mr Mmari.

Recently Dawasco was under the spotlight after some consumers raised concern over water bills issued by the authority saying they were not based on metre reading.