This study assessed sustainability of rural water supply projects in Bahi and
Chamwino districts, Dodoma, central Tanzania. The study adopted a cross-sectional
research design. In order to study different types of projects two strata were created
basing on extraction methods used. A total of 24 projects were surveyed across the
study area and 136 respondents were interviewed. Multiple data collection methods
such as FGDs and Interviews were used. The collected data were processed and
analysed using descriptive analysis method. The study found that there was very
limited involvement of the beneficiaries in the decision of the type of affordable and
appropriate water supply technologies. Nearly all the respondents denied to have
been involved in decision on water supply technology options that would suit their
needs. A majority of the surveyed projects were found to be functional; however, the
remaining small fraction of 10.3% and 30.4% non functional schemes in Bahi and
Chamwino respectively signified that there were some communities that did not have
access to safe and clean water supply due to technical challenges caused by the
chosen water supply technologies. The study established a very strong negative
correlation coefficient (r = -91.99%) between the technology used and sustainability
of the project. It was recommended to the external actor side that transparency
should be well observed at community level thereby sharing with the beneficiaries on
all the technological options, their advantages and disadvantages, and wherever
possible to consider and respect technologies in which the communities have
experience so as to enhance sustainability of the particular rural water supply
projects.