Water Basins

Tanzania is endowed with numerous and diverse water resources in the form of rivers, lakes, wetlands and productive aquifers. In order to manage the water resources in a sustainable manner, the Ministry has adopted a river basin as a planning unit. The objective of the river basin approach is to manage water resources in an integrated and comprehensive manner, which ensures equitable, efficient and sustainable development of the resources. In 1989, through the Water Utilization ((Control and Regulation) Act No. 42 of 1974, Amendment No. 10 of 1981) the Minister for Water gazette nine (9) water basins for the purposes of water resources administration and management. Six of these basins are international drainage basins.

The Government established Basin Water Offices in the Pangani River Basin (1991), Rufiji River Basin (1993), Lake Victoria (2000), Wami-Ruvu (2001), Lake Nyasa (2001), Lake Rukwa (2001), Internal Drainage Basin to Lake Eyasi, Manyara and Bubu depression (2004), Lake Tanganyika (2004), Ruvuma and Southern Coast (2004).
The staffs in these basins are engaged in water resources management, surface and groundwater resources assessment and exploration, Water Resources Planning and Research, Regulatory, Enforcement and Environment. The Basins are administered by Basin Water Officers.

(Figure: River Basins in Tanzania)

Tanzania Map showing Water Basin