The Tanzania Water Project addresses the clean drinking water needs of those living in and around Dar Es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania. With a current population of nearly 5 million people, this semi-developed metro area is one of the top 10 fastest growing cities in the world. Since a sizable portion of the Dar population lives in shantytowns, the amount of people without public services is significant. While public taps dot the city, the water they provide is contaminated. In the rural areas outside of the city, many people have no choice but to retrieve their drinking water from open, hand-dug wells that are contaminated by animal waste and runoff. Considering the number of people without access to clean water, it is no surprise that cholera outbreaks and other water-related health issues are commonplace throughout Dar and rural Tanzania. As a result, the ultimate goal of the Tanzania Water Project is the wide spread distribution of biosand filters throughout Dar and its surrounding rural areas, which will provide a sustainable supply of clean drinking water for those in need. The Tanzania Water Project was started in November 2007, and is implemented at the point of need through a partnership with Serving Our Neighbor (SON) International.
The modern East African country of Tanzania was formed in 1961, bringing together the Island of Zanzibar and the territory of Tanganyika. Eighty percent of Tanzanians work in the agricultural sector, which is the basis of the national economy. A large and diverse country about twice the size of California, Tanzania lays claim to some of Africa’s most beautiful and famous scenery. It is home to the Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, beautiful beaches along the Indian Ocean, and Gombe National Park where Jane Goodall conducted her chimpanzee research.
