THE government and Geita Gold Mines (GGM) have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement a water project worth 15.4bn/- to ensure its reliable supply to Geita town.

The GGM Managing Director, Mr Gary Davies, said during the signing ceremony over the weekend that the cost of the project will be shared by the government and GGM. He said the government would provide 9.4bn/- and GGM 6bn/-.

"The project involves extending mining site water supply for Geita town using the existing infrastructure including the GGM pipeline from Nungwe Bay in Lake Victoria and the mine storage reservoir in Nyankanga Dam currently being used for storage and supply of mine processing water," remarked Mr Davies.

The MoU was signed by the GGM Managing Director on behalf of his company and Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Water, Mr Christopher Sayi, on behalf of the government. Geita Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority and Geita Town Council officials witnessed the signing ceremony.

Mr Sayi noted that the government would make close monitoring to ensure that the assistance from GGM is used for intended purpose in order to maintain and promote the partnership and relationship existing between the parties. According Mr Davis, in 2009 his company decided to provide a treatment water supply to the storage tanks above the town together with some limited distribution system of it.

The government funded inputs to distribute water through a comprehensive town water supply reticulation system. The system was able to save 77 per cent of Geita Town population which is currently estimated to be 88,875 people.

"The scope of the work involves construction of the intake at Nyankanga dam, a raw water storage tank located adjacent to the treatment tank, multi stage filtration and disinfection treatment plant, and a clean water storage tank also located adjacent to the treatment plant," he said.

"Others include installation of transfer pumps, laying of a 5.9 km, 350mm diameter pipeline from Nyankanga Dam to a storage tank located at Katoma hill-Kasco Area and construction of a 1,200 cubic metres storage tank at Kasco area," he added.