Use of engineering economic equivalence tenets to prioritize water source(s) for use by households, ‘The Case of Mbeya City – Tanzania’

Abstract

ABSTRACT In Tanzania, inadequate water access impacts 26% of urban and 38% of rural populations, heavily reliant on piped water systems prone to rationing. Low-income earners suffer from high water bills and poor water quality. Alternative sources like gravity-fed systems, rain harvesting, and drilled wells are overlooked, lacking evaluation using engineering economic equivalence (EEE) principles for prioritization. This study fills this gap by examining the literature and using Mbeya City data from users of tapped water, rain harvesting, and drilled wells to prioritize household water sources. EEE computations determine the present worth, valuing tapped water systems, rain harvesting, and drilled wells at Tshs 11,009,424/-, 10,283,000/-, and 12,099,940/-, respectively. Although rain harvesting seems favorable, it is unsuitable for drinking, and tapped water systems involve fluctuating daily costs. Consequently, the ‘drilled water system’ is the preferred option for sustainable household water access.