Water reservoirs drying up

By Joe Kiarie

Water shortage should be declared a national disaster so that it can be handled with seriousness.

This is the plea of millions who are unsure of where to get the next drop of the precious commodity.

In homes, public institutions, and hospitality and manufacturing industries, crisis worsens every day.

The plea that the water shortage be declared a disaster comes amid persistent cries from city residents. Many of them have resorted to desperate measures after six months of dry taps.

There are often long queues in many parts of the city as worried residents scramble for water from limited spots. Vendors are selling a 20-litre jerrican of water selling for Sh80. This is despite fears that some of the water is fetched from sources heavily contaminated by sewage.

The sting of the biting shortage can best be portrayed by scenes in Nairobi’s Githurai 44 , where The Standard on Sunday encountered vendors fetching water from a river contaminated with sewage deposits.

The water was later sold to unsuspecting customers at Maziwa, Kahawa West and Githurai.

Some residents have apparently gone for several months without a drop from their taps.

The entire Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company board was earlier this month sent packing over alleged mismanagement, amid claims that up to 50 per cent of water meant for Nairobi residents is lost to illegal connections.

At the moment, demand for water In Nairobi stands at 650,000 cubic metres or 650 million litres per day.

But only 480 million litres are available per day, which is 74 per cent of the current demand.

Various estimates indicate that the distributed capacity is 380 million litres of water per day, which is 79.1 per cent of available capacity or 58.4 per cent of total demand.

With no signs of rain, many hope the Government has a fallback plan, especially for Nairobi where most of the more than three million people depend on city council water.

"It goes without saying that a capital city without water is a national disaster. It is July and still no sign of rain. The crisis should be declared a disaster as we face tough times ahead," says Timothy Muriuki, the Nairobi Central District Association chairman.

Muriuki says it is ironical five star hotels have been reduced to using borehole water, while hundreds of other premier business enterprises within the city go for days without a single drop.

He appeals to entrepreneurs to cut on water usage, especially by turning off running water in urinals and minimising general washing.

Schools countrywide have also been on the receiving end, and the Kenya National Association of Parents (Knap) says it is now time for swift action.

" The situation is pathetic and millions of students are suffering. The shortage has interfered with learning as students are being forced to spend most of their time fetching water outside schools, says Musau Ndunda, the Knap secretary general.

He says poor hygiene conditions are exposing students to pandemics and urges the Government to consider sinking boreholes in all schools to avert a crisis.

Multiple effects

Kenya Private Sector Alliance Chief Executive Officer Kevit Desai says all the 250 key organisations under the alliance have been sharply hit by the water shortage. Some manufacturing factories have already closed due to the crisis.

The closing down of industries has not gone down well with Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli, who terms poor water planning and management a disaster and calls for the sacking of top officers in charge of water services in the country.

"When factories shut down, many people lose their jobs. Those in charge of water services should have planned and ensured we have enough reservoirs," Atwoli told The Standard on Sunday.

He promised to ensure no one loses job as a result of the water crisis.

Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations boss Steven Mutoro says water management, planning and environmental degradation are a disaster.

Long queues at water points are a common sight in the city. Photo: File/Standard

"We don’t plan beyond the rains. Again, we behave as if we have a contract with God that we can destroy our water catchment areas and still expect rains," says Mutoro, who represents residents in over 250 organisations countrywide.

But Muriuki says boreholes should not be seen as a lasting solution especially for the city with its raising population.

He says the NCBDA has, as an option, recommended that the City Council of Nairobi legalises water harvesting, which is currently against city by-laws.