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<p>The Bahi Swamp sub-basin, situated in the semi-arid region of central Tanzania, is facing increasing water scarcity due to factors such as climate change and population growth, posing significant threats to food security and community livelihoods. To address the challenge of water availability in the area, this study aims to assess community awareness and practices in sustainable water resource management, with a focus on water harvesting. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 260 participants. The results show that 47% of participants spent more than 30&#xa0;min on a round trip to fetch water, 50% are unable to use at least 20&#xa0;L of water per household member per day, and 68% rated water quality as average to very poor, indicating that most of the population in the area experiences inadequate water availability. Shallow wells are the most used source, with about 75% of participants relying on them, while only 27% use surface water from seasonal rivers or streams. About 25% of participants considered rooftop rainwater harvesting as one of their water sources. Despite this relatively low proportion, awareness of rainwater harvesting is remarkably high: around 95% of participants are familiar with the practise, and around 80% reported actively practising it. However, only 2% of these practitioners can use harvested rainwater throughout the year, and about 71% rely on it only during the rainy season, highlighting ineffective rainwater harvesting practises in the area. Therefore, it is imperative to accelerate the implementation of effective rainwater harvesting systems.</p>

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Community awareness and practices in sustainable water management in the Bahi Swamp sub-basin, Tanzania: a focus on rainwater harvesting

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月24日

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  • George Bennett,
  • Malugu Maduhu Tembo,
  • Minza Mboje,
  • Samwel Lupyana,
  • Lulu Tunu Kaaya,
  • Sekela Twisa

摘要

The Bahi Swamp sub-basin, situated in the semi-arid region of central Tanzania, is facing increasing water scarcity due to factors such as climate change and population growth, posing significant threats to food security and community livelihoods. To address the challenge of water availability in the area, this study aims to assess community awareness and practices in sustainable water resource management, with a focus on water harvesting. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 260 participants. The results show that 47% of participants spent more than 30 min on a round trip to fetch water, 50% are unable to use at least 20 L of water per household member per day, and 68% rated water quality as average to very poor, indicating that most of the population in the area experiences inadequate water availability. Shallow wells are the most used source, with about 75% of participants relying on them, while only 27% use surface water from seasonal rivers or streams. About 25% of participants considered rooftop rainwater harvesting as one of their water sources. Despite this relatively low proportion, awareness of rainwater harvesting is remarkably high: around 95% of participants are familiar with the practise, and around 80% reported actively practising it. However, only 2% of these practitioners can use harvested rainwater throughout the year, and about 71% rely on it only during the rainy season, highlighting ineffective rainwater harvesting practises in the area. Therefore, it is imperative to accelerate the implementation of effective rainwater harvesting systems.