Nairobi’s perennial water shortages to end in 2015

By Jackson Okoth

 

A masterplan to deal with Nairobi’s perennial water supply shortfall has been launched.

The programme, to be fully operational by 2015, will also improve the water metering and billing technology for domestic consumers and eliminate losses incurred through illegal connections.

“We are receiving only two thirds of the expected consumption from the sources. Although attempts have been made to ensure equitable distribution, not all areas of the city receive water at full pressure throughout the week,” said Peter Kuguru, the board chairman, of Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Limited.

Statistics indicate that while consumption demand now stands at approximately 787,000 cubic metres a day, the water company is only able to supply 410,000 cubic metres.

The water firm is encouraging residents to have overhead storage tanks on their roofs as well as extra storage to cater for supply shortages when pumping pressure goes down in their areas. 

In order to ensure adequate supply, the water company varies pumping pressure in various parts of the city throughout the week.  For instance, the city centre receives full pressure four days a week from Monday to Thursday and less pressure on other days of the week.

“But even with this supply programme , there are areas that still go without any supply for days such as Kahawa West and the right side of industrial area as one goes towards the airport,” said Kuguru.

As Nairobi Water Company strives to deal with supply capacity constraints, it is also faced with the problem of illegal connections. Out of the 240,000 meters installed in domestic units, only 130,000 meters are read, implying that the remaining 110,000 are illegal connections.

“We intend to eliminate this problem of illegal connections by February next year, including consumers receiving water dishonestly and not paying for it,” said Kuguru.

Although the company has been using water tankers to supply customers on construction sites, hospitals and institutions, this strategy has been invaded by unscrupulous dealers.

“ We have dishonest private tankers who, colluding with some of our own staff, draw water from the mains and sell it,” he said.