BACKGROUND

Ruvuma River and Southern Coast Basin Water Board (RSCBWB) was established in 2004 in accordance with the Water and Utilization Act No. 42 of 1974, and its subsequent amendments to the Act Na. 10 of 1981. The former Act was repealed by the Water Resources Management Act No. 11 of 2009. The head office of the Basin is in Mtwara Municipality along Industrial area Maji Compound. It has three Sub-offices situated in Lindi, Tunduru and Songea.

Administratively the Basin area includes three regions Mtwara, Lindi and a large part of Ruvuma Region. Ruvuma and Southern Coast Basin cover an area of 105,583 Km² which comprises 6 Major rivers namely Ruvuma River (52,552 Km²), Mbwemkuru River (18,636 Km²), Matandu River (17,360 Km²), Lukuledi River (6,848Km²), Mambi River (5,258 Km²), and Mavuji River (4,928 Km²), which independently drains its water into the Indian Ocean.

Ruvuma River is a transboundary water resources which cover an area of 155,000 Km2 shared between three countries namely Tanzania 52, 552 Km² (34.30%), Mozambique 100,000 Km² (65.39%) and Malawi 2,500 Km² (0.31%). The main Ruvuma River rises within Tanzania in the Songea region on the eastern side of the Matogoro hills and Mbinga hills, at an altitude of about 2,100 m. It flows West and then South for 110 km before changing direction to the East. From this point onwards, the River also becomes an international boundary between Tanzania and Mozambique. The River drains into the Indian Ocean at Mnazi Bay, south of Mtwara, after flowing for 650 km as a border.

VISION:

To have Sustainable Water Resources Management in Ruvuma and Southern Coast Basin

MISSION:

The shared Ruvuma River waters and other water resources in the basin are effectively managed in an environmentally sustainable manner for the well-being of its people and Ecosystem in the basin by equitably allocating water, pollution control, protection of Water sources and other integrated approaches.

 

CORE VALUES:

1. Effective response to all enquiries and correspondences

1. Abide to the laws and rules available

2. Politely and humbly handle visitors

3. Abide to professional code of ethics

4. To use properly basin properties

5. To provide proper decisions on matters concerning basin issues

Administration

Board of Directors

• Mr. Msaru L. Msengi - Board Chairman

• …………………………. – Vice Chairaman

• Mr. Jumanne S. Mpemba – Secretary

• Ms. Domina Msonge – Member

• Eng. Nuntufye D. Mwamsojo - Member

• Eng. Makaka F. Pius - Member

• Eng. Johnson Kishumba – Member

• Eng. Boniphace Guni - Member

• Ms. Magreth V. Likonda - Member

• Ms. Rehema B. Mpunga - Member

• Ms. Anisa M. Natosa – Member

• Mr. Kibosile S. Nombo - Member

Basin Management Team

• Mr. Jumanne S. Mpemba – Basin Director

• Mr. Robert E. Kihiyo – Chief Accountant

• Mr. Galus S. Sapi – Procurement and Transport Unit

• Mr. Jaribu M. Liana – Head of Hydrology Section

• Mr. Ngumu A. Bonaje – Head of Groundwater Section

• Mr. Dickson M. Maganga – Head of Stakeholders Engagement

• Eng. Glades E. Rugaimkamu – Head of Environmental Section

• Mr. Boniface S. Msemwa – Head of Water Permit Section

• Mr. Deusdedith B. Gonelamenda – Office In charge Songea Sub Office

• Mr. Amadeo Nkumbi - Office In charge Lindi Sub Office

• Eng. Maneno Z. Mayenga - Office In charge Songea Sub Office

Contact

Postal Address

The United Republic of Tanzania

Ministry of Water

Ruvuma Basin Water Board

Maji yard, Industrial Area

P.O. Box 141

Mtwara

Email Address

basins.ruvuma@maji.go.tz

Telephone

In progress….

Phone

+255 784345356

 

RSCBWB - Functions

There are three Main Functions/Objectives

• Water Resources Assessment and Monitoring

• Water Resources Allocation

• Water sources protection and pollution control.

OUR SERVICES

GRANT WATER USE PERMITS

• A Water Use Permit is a permit legally granted to a person/institution for the use of water such as Water Domestic Use (Water Supply Scheme, Individual Use, etc.), Irrigation, Industrial, Mining, Livestock, Power Production (H.E.P), Construction Works, Recreation, Fish Farming etc.

• The Water Resources Management Act No. 11, of 2009, requires that everyone who abstracts water from any water source (deep well, springs, rivers, dams, wetlands) using infrastructure must have a permit for water use from Ruvuma and Southern Coast Basin Water Board.

• Procedures to be followed to get Water Use Permit are: The customer to obtain a water use permit must follow the procedures of applying for a permit for his/her use of water by filling out the application form found in our website. .

DRILLING PERMITS

In accordance with Act No. 11 of 2009 Water Resources Management, Ruvuma Basin Water Board is responsible for issuing permits for drilling boreholes of more than 15 meters in the following region Mtwara, Ruvuma and Lindi).

Procedures to be followed to get drilling permit are:

1. The applicant before applying for a permit must undertake a geophysical/hydrogeological survey in the area where he / she needs to drill a borehole. This geophysical/hydrogeological survey can be done by expertise from Ruvuma Basin Water Board or any company, institution and organization that is registered by Ministry of Water.

2. After surveying, the applicant must apply for a drilling permit by writing a letter and filling a form C together with attaching Hydrogeological survey report to the Ruvuma Basin Water Board.

3. After obtaining a drilling permit, the applicant is allowed to drill, drilling should take place under supervision of a qualified Hydrogeologist/Hydrogeology Technician.

4. The drilling permit is valid only for three-month, failure to drill within a given time a client must renew drilling permit.

5. After drilling a borehole, the applicant should conduct pumping test and water quality test.

6. After water quality test, the applicant must be applying for a water use permit to Ruvuma Basin Water Board.

DISCHARGE PERMITS

Discharge permit is among four permits issued by the Ruvuma Basin Water Board. This permit is issued in accordance with the Water Resources Management Act No. 11 of 2009, Article No. 63 which states that a person who wishes to discharge effluents from any commercial, industrial, or agricultural sources or from any sewerage works or trade waste systems or from any other into surface water or underground strata shall apply to the Basin Water Board for a Discharge Permit.

The following steps are followed prior to the issuance of this permit with the aim of ensuring that the waste water generated is treated to the quality set by Tanzania Bureau standard;

1. Applicant requesting for discharge permit through letter writing and pass it to ward or village government office before sending it Ruvuma Basin Office

2. Applicant filling out the registration form

3. Experts visiting the relevant site for a preliminary investigation on the activities carried out as well as waste water sampling in order to conduct laboratory tests

4. Getting opinions from various stakeholders such as NEMC

5. Permit Approval by Board meeting

6. Applicant obtaining a permit

GEOPHYSICAL /HYDROGEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Hydrogeological survey service is the service which applied for the groundwater investigations. Geophysical exploration method should be done by using at least two geophysical methods, one of them must be electrical resistivity method (Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES)), Other methods are Electromagnetics, Magnetics, Gravity, and Seismic.

Magnetic method is important in tracing fractures and weathered zones buried underneath and electrical resistivity method was used to determine depth of identified fractures or weathered zones which could be either water bearing zone or not hence provide depth of the borehole to be drilled. We provide these services to companies, public institutions, non-governmental organizations and individual. Ruvuma basin water board has qualified professionals to provide these services. 

THE PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING THIS SERVICE.

1. Before conducting groundwater exploration at any area, the client is advised to consult the respective Basin Water Board (RSCBWB) for advice on appropriateness of the proposed area. Any licensed groundwater exploration person, before embarking on groundwater exploration activities, shall inform the respective Basin Water Board.

2. The client will write application letter to the Ruvuma Basin Water Board, and it will be answered as soon as possible and the client will be given an estimate of the cost of this service, payment should be done via Electronic method after provision of control numbers

3. After client complete the payment, the experts will arrive the relevant area to undertake geophysical survey.

4. After undertaking geophysical survey client will be provided geophysical report showing depth to be drilled and method will be used in drilling operation according to geology of the area.

PUMP TEST SUPERVSION

Ruvuma and Southern Coast Basin Water Board provides a Wellness Management and Evaluation service after the drilling exercise completed, aim of pumping test supervision is to determine yield of borehole and aquifer capacity. We provide this service to companies, public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and anyone who needs this service. The Board has qualified professionals to provide this service.