Featured Well

Urambo Water Supply Project Brings 17 Wells, Clean Water to 47,600 People in Tanzania

A massive water supply project in Urambo, Tanzania funded by the American people through the U.S. Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and implemented by Maji-Tech Engineering, Ltd., was celebrated with a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting on March 11, 2009. The project resulted in the installation of 17 new boreholes that will provide clean, safe drinking water to approximately 47,600 Tanzanian people. The majority of the wells are located at health centers and schools in order to ensure open access and improve public health.

With a total cost of $470,000 (over Tsh 614 million), the financial support came from the American people and is a result of a collaborative effort between the CJTF-HOA, the Urambo District Sanitation and Water Department and the U.S. Mission in Tanzania. CJTF-HOA funded the water project as part of its overall mission to promote goodwill and strengthen stability in the region. CJTF-HOA awarded the water supply contract to private drilling company Maji-Tech Engineering, Ltd. based in Arusha in September 2008.

The dedication ceremony was held at Extended primary school located in Urambo’s central ward. The well yields 7,500 litres an hour and serves about 4,400 people. Due to this high yield, the district plans to pipe water from the well to serve neighboring villages.

Distinguished guests included Speaker of Tanzania National Assembly, Hon. Samuel Sitta, MP; U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Larry André; Maji-Tech Engineering, Ltd. General Manager Jacques Birugurugu; U.S. Navy Capt. Allyson T. Caddell, strategic communication director, and the regional and district commissioners.

The Urambo region is home to approximately 400,000 people. Citizens had been using hand-dug, unprotected wells, a situation which caused waterborne disease to be prevalent. The unreliable supply of water in these hand-dug wells meant that people sometimes had to wait as long as two hours for water.

“We are so pleased to drill these boreholes to improve the quality of life for Tanzanians,” said Maji-Tech Engineering general manager Jacques Birugurugu. “As a leading water resource development company in East Africa, we were able to put our technical expertise to use in giving life-saving clean water to 47,600 people. We at Maji-Tech were also pleased to donate one of the water wells which serves 800 students and villages of about 4,000 people living in Ukondo Moyo ward.”

As part of the project, Maji-Tech worked with the district water department to select and train people on water well management and repair.

The success of the Urambo water supply project is a result of a strong partnership between the CJTF-HOA, Maji-Tech Engineering, the U.S. Mission in Tanzania, the Tanzanian government and the local community.