Sumbawanga — THE World Bank will spend over 5.2bn/- to develop two major water projects aiming at easing water supply problems in Sumbawanga district, Rukwa region.

The water projects are scheduled for completion next month to end water blues that has been troubling the municipality and its environs for the past two months.

Rukwa Regional Commissioner, Engineer Stella Manyanya told the 'Daily News' that the two water projects involve drilling of 13 deep wells at the Lichwe River basin. According to her, it will also include rehabilitation of dilapidated water pipes and connecting new ones.

According to the RC, more than 393.6m/- would be spent on connecting new pipes while 4.9bn/- goes into replacement of old water pipes. "At the moment, 13 deep wells have already been drilled, but only 8 of them are supplying water, with a capacity of 4 million litres per day.

Half of the work on construction of a water reservoir has been done," she noted. Engineer Manyanya added that once completed, the projects would increase water production from the present 30 per cent to 80 per cent, during the dry season as the actual demand stands at 9 million litres per day.