Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) has begun dismantling pipes in a crackdown on illegal water connections in Thindigua Kiambu County to counter water theft.
In a video seen by The Kenya Times, the company staff were seen onsite disconnecting some of the water pipes that were illegally connected without following the required protocols.
“The Company in collaboration with the Administration Police Unit is currently carrying out a crackdown on illegal water connection at Thindigua, Northern Region,” Nairobi Water said in a statement.
On April 9, the Nairobi Water Security team undertook an illegal water disconnection operation in Kiang’ombe, Embu.
Nairobi City Water Dismantling Estate Pipes
The team managed to excavate the area and located a customer bypassing water from the main line.
Subsequently, the crackdown follows an announcement by the company on February 28 concerning the commencement of mass disconnections across the capital city.
Earlier in February, Ministry of Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Paul Kiprono said the country is losing close to Ksh.10 billion due to illegal connections.
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“The government has invested close to Sh1 trillion in water infrastructure, but we are losing close to Sh10 billion on non-revenue water,” he said.
Rise in Illegal Water Connections
Recent months have seen a surge in illegal water connections in the city, impacting water supply and posing significant safety and health risks.
However, the NCWSC is addressing this challenge through its Rapid Results Initiative, which focuses on regularizing connections and reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW).
NRW refers to the volume of treated water that doesn’t earn revenue that results from a variety of causes, including dilapidated infrastructure and use of weak and substandard pipe materials.
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Other causes include water theft, inadequate water resources, limited capacity of water production and distribution facilities, and inadequate staff with the capacity to implement NRW management programmes.
Illegal Water Connection Penalty in Kenya
Vandalism and destruction of critical infrastructure are some of the charges that lawbreakers face.
According to the Water Act 2016, illegal water connection attracts the following penalties.
1. Illegal water connection for commercial, industrial or construction sites attracts a fine of Ksh 100,000 plus the estimated consumption during the entire period of the illegality.
The offence can also attract a jail term of two years or both (payment of the fine plus jail term).
2. Domestic users who engage in illegal water connections will be fined Ksh 30,000 plus the estimated consumption during the entire period of the illegality.
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