Preface

From Ministry of Water DCOM Manual

Volume I: Preface

The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania through the Ministry of Water is overseeing the implementation of the Water Supply and Sanitation projects in the country. The Ministry of Water published several editions of the Design Manuals. The First edition was the Water Supply and Waste Water Disposal Manual of 1985/86. The Second edition was titled Design Manual for Water Supply and Waste Water Disposal of 1997. The Third edition was titled Design Manual for Water Supply and Waste Water Disposal of 2009. These manuals guided the Ministry and the general public in the planning and design of water supply projects in the country. As it is now more than ten years since the Third edition of the Design manual was adopted and in the meantime, many scientific and technological changes have taken place including the conclusion of MDGs and adoption of the SDGs in 2015 as well as learning some useful lessons out of implementation of the WSDP I and WSDP II (which is still on-going); it is felt it is high time to revise the design manual. Notably, the 3rd edition Design Manual has limited coverage on the impact of climate change, application software and sanitation management issues among other things.

The Ministry is now at various stages of instituting policy and legal reforms that are deemed necessary for improving the design, construction supervision, operation and maintenance of water supply and sanitation projects in Tanzania. Therefore, the 4th edition 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 supervision, execution and management of rural water supply and sanitation projects. RUWASA is expected to improve the responsibility and accountability in the management of the water and sanitation services in rural areas. The 4th edition DCOM Manual will support the National WSSA, UWSSA and RUWASA projects and will provide valuable information related to implementation of water supply and sanitation projects at various stages, from initiation, pre-feasibility, feasibility studies, planning, design, construction supervision and operation and maintenance.

It is expected that the 4th edition DCOM Manual will position the Ministry to systematically and comprehensively implement the design, construction supervision, operation and maintenance of water supply and sanitation projects in order to ensure their sustainability in Tanzania. 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 with regard to the "Africa that we want" and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on water and sanitation (SDG No. 6).

Preparation of this Water Supply and Sanitation DCOM Manual, required contribution in form of both human and financial resources. The Ministry of Water would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Special Committee for Reviewing and Updating the 3rd edition Design Manual for Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal of 2009 for their immense efforts in preparation of this comprehensive 4th edition DCOM Manual as well as the World Bank for financing the major part of the preparation activities, and 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 address changes in policy and societal needs, emerging technologies, and sustainability concerns in implementation of water supply and sanitation projects in the country.


Prof. Makame Mbarawa (MP) Minister Ministry of Water 14th March 2020


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