Tanzania
Biharu is a welcoming community of 12,000+ residents located in rural northwestern Tanzania. The local economy is driven by the cultivation of produce carried into the village from the fields at dusk.
Water is supplied by approximately 10 km of piping that branches into several water taps distributed across the community. But the missionaries who built the system were not accountable for its maintenance over the years.
Engineers Without Borders Greater Austin adopted the Biharu Water Project in December 2019. The villages of the Biharu Ward presented a high-impact opportunity to partner with a community larger than most we serve.
The need for safe and reliable water was urgent.
From its inception, this project faced extraordinary obstacles. The COVID-19 pandemic grounded our team due to an international travel ban implemented by our national office.
Between 2020 and 2022, we adapted by funding community surveys, remote water quality analysis, and magnetic resonance testing, alongside engineering assessments driven by our in-country partners.
Despite the distance, our Austin-based team remained committed, motivated by the community’s trust and the project’s vital importance.
We finally began in-person government meetings and site work in fall 2022, returning to Biharu with finalized engineering plans in fall 2024, backed by a federal construction permit.
This work was also supported by the Tanzania Ministry of Water’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Regional & District Government Officials, and the Biharu Water Board.
Yet, as our contractors were mobilizing for construction, we were informed that Buhigwe District personnel had prohibited project implementation.
We eventually learned that this shift was due to local factors beyond our control caused by political activity of our NGO Executive Director, which led to severed ties with the in-country organization committed to supporting the project’s success.
Despite this setback, our resolve had been deepened by our shared experience with the community, hearing their stories and spending time with the children. We escalated our efforts to the federal level and secured meaningful support.
Ultimately, after a thorough risk assessment based on historical evidence and EWB’s policy of long-term project sustainability, we reached a painful conclusion: the damaged relationships with local government entities and in-country partners meant we could no longer trust in the project’s long-term viability.
Engineers Without Borders Greater Austin formally announced the termination of the Biharu Water Project in June 2026.
As stewards of donor support and volunteer time, we must ensure every resource is directed toward projects where success is attainable.
We closed the project with the utmost respect and care for the community.
To further support the people of Biharu, we provided the local water board and system technicians with a valve schedule analysis to optimize their existing distribution system.
We also submitted complete engineering design plans to the Biharu Water Board and the Tanzanian government.
We are still committed to assisting in the transition of this project to any organization capable of navigating the current local landscape, should one be identified.
At Engineers Without Borders Greater Austin, we believe access to clean water is a fundamental human right and that everyone has the power to change the world. While we are saddened that we could not deliver the system designed for Biharu, our mission remains unchanged. We will continue to support underserved communities abroad with the same dedication and resolve.
We owe immense gratitude to our donors and supporters. Without shared values and commitment, our work would not be possible. We also want to thank our volunteers, both technical and non-technical, whose diverse skills turn community development into a reality.
While projects are our deliverables, supporting people remains our ultimate goal. Because of our shared belief that every community deserves better outcomes, we are empowered to provide the vital support people need when they have nowhere else to turn.
Our International Community Program is now looking to the future. We are ready to apply the lessons learned in Biharu to new communities as we work to ensure the right to clean water is fulfilled for all.
