Preface

Preface

The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, through the Ministry of Water, oversees the implementation of the Water Supply and Sanitation projects in the country. The Ministry of Water has published several editions of the relevant Design Manuals. The First edition was the Water Supply and Waste Wastewater Disposal Manual of 1985/86. The Second edition was titled “Design Manual for Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal of 1997”. The Third edition was titled “Design Manual for Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal of 2009”. These manuals guided the Ministry and the general public in the planning and design of water supply and sanitation projects in the country.

As it is now well over ten years since the Third Edition of the Design manual was adopted, and since many scientific and technological changes have taken place, including the conclusion of MDGs and adoption of the SDGs in 2015 as well as useful lessons learnt out of implementation of the WSDP I and WSDP II (which is still on-going), it has become necessary to revise the 2009 design manual. Notably, the 3rd Edition Design Manual has, among other things, limited coverage on the impact of climate change, application software and sanitation management issues.

The Ministry is now at various stages of instituting policy and legal reforms that are deemed necessary for futuristic improvement in the design, construction supervision, operation and maintenance of water supply and sanitation projects in Tanzania. Therefore, the 4th Edition of the Design, Construction Supervision, Operation and Maintenance (DCOM) Manual will make invaluable contribution in this regard. It is important to recall that the Government has established the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), which is responsible for the supervision, execution and management of rural water supply and sanitation projects. RUWASA is expected to improve the existing responsibility and accountability in the management of water and sanitation services in rural areas. The 4th Edition DCOM Manual will support the sector development and implementation institutions (including RUWASA, Water Supply and Sanitation Authorities, development partners, and civil society organisations), and will provide valuable information relating to implementation of water supply and sanitation projects in their various stages, from pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, to planning, designing, construction supervision and operation and maintenance.

It is expected that the 4th Edition of the DCOM Manual will position the Ministry well to systematically and comprehensively implement the design, construction supervision, operation and maintenance of water supply and sanitation projects in order to ensure the sustainability of water supply and sanitation projects in the country. This is also expected to contribute in realising the water sector’s contribution towards achieving the Tanzania Development Vision 2025, as well as the various national and international commitments and milestones in the water sector as also specified in the Agenda 2063 in the "Africa that we want" and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on water and sanitation (SDG No. 6).

The preparation of this Water Supply and Sanitation Projects DCOM Manual required contributions in form of both human and financial resources. The Ministry of Water, therefore, takes this opportunity to thank the members of the Special Committee for Reviewing and Updating the 3rd Edition of the Design Manual for Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal of 2009, specifically for their efforts in preparation of this comprehensive 4th Edition of the DCOM Manual. Thanks are also due to the World Bank for financing the major part of the activities, and to all others who contributed in the preparation of this new DCOM Manual.

In the future, the Ministry plans to periodically review and update the DCOM Manual in order to keep in pace and address emerging changes in policy and societal needs, emerging technologies, and sustainability concerns in the implementation of water supply and sanitation projects in the country.

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