Use of water for unauthorised purposes
I am getting water supply from a water authority for domestic use. I have established a small industry near my home and now want to hire a plumber to connect water pipes from my home to my industry. Of course I will pay for the consumption. Is this legal?
YU, Dar
Since you are licensed to use water for domestic purpose only, it is wrong to use water supplied to you for industrial needs. According to section 65 of the Water Supply and Sanitation Act, 2019 it is an offence to use water for purpose other than domestic needs for which you are licensed by the water authority. You must get permission of the water authority first before your plumber connects the pipes to your industry. If you connect and use water supplied for domestic needs for industrial purpose, you will be committing a crime and in case you are convicted you will be sentenced to a fine not exceeding TZS 5M or imprisonment for a term not less than 6 months. Apart from the fine, the water authority will be entitled to recover from you the value of water improperly used as water charges vary depending on the purpose for which water is supplied.