The Dodoma Urban Water and Sewerage Authority (Duwasa) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the police and Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF) here to clear their debts, short of which the service will be severed.

Muwasa managing director Peter Mokiwa said the grace period would end on May 29, this year.

Apart from the two state organs, Duwasa issued a similar ultimatum to Makutopora National Service Camp, Dodoma Regional Hospital and the Prisons Department, saying if they did not clear their debts in time water would be disconnected.

According to Mokiwa, until the end of last month the institutions owed Duwasa a total of 348m/-, saying some of the bills were long-standing.

He thanked some institutions in the region for prompt payment of their bills. They include Parliament, Dodoma Planning College and the University of Dodoma.

He also commended wananchi for their efforts to settle their water bills on time.

When contacted for comment, TPDF spokesperson Col Kapambala Mgawe told this paper that he would first have to contact the authorities before commenting on the matter.

“Although I am the spokersperson, I cannot know each and everthing. I need to contact various directorates to know the facts on the ground before I respond," he said.

In 2009 the Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Corporation (Dawasco) issued a similar altumatum to TPDF to settle accumulated bills amounting to 787,469,729/-, which were paid shortly thereafter.

Meanwhile, Dar es Salaam residents have been experiencing water shortage for almost a week after the Dar es salaam Water and Sewerage Corporation (DAWASCO) announced that it was carrying out maintenance of the Upper Ruvu water plant.

Teddy Mlengu, Dawasco public relations officer, told this paper in a telephone interview yesterday that the maintenance was routine, adding that it had issued a public notice about it.

“We were carrying out maintenance of the plant. But we are expecting to switch it on today (Sunday) evening for testing,” she said.

The officer urged customers to be patient, adding that if the trial runs proved successful the plant would be switched on ready for water distribution to various parts of the city.