The Nairobi City County Government has responded to questions raised by the residents on why the county is still rationing water despite the ongoing heavy rains.
In a statement on their official X account, Nairobi City Water Managing Director Nahason Muguna stated that the rationing is because the water from dams has to be treated first before getting to the consumers taps.
“Because we have to first treat the water from the dams before it gets to our taps. The water has to go through our water treatment plants that have a maximum production capacity of 525.6 million liters per day, against a demand of 870 million liters,” the statement reads in part.
Further, the county government delved into the details of the four water sources that supply water to Nairobi County including Kikuyu Springs, Ruiru, Sasumua and Thika Dams.
The water from these four sources is treated in Ngethu, Sasumua, Kabete and Kikuyu Water Treatment Works.
“The four have an installed maximum daily production capacity of 440 million, 61 million, 20 million and 4 million liters respectively,” the statement further reads.
However, the county government acknowledged that the country’s dams were overflowing due to the heavy El Nino rains.
Notably, they revealed that the water supply to Nairobi City is limited to the installed production capacity.
Despite Heavy Rains, Water Supply will Remain Constant
Therefore, this suggests that despite the heavy rains, water supply in the capital city will remain constant.
“We cannot go beyond the installed production capacity. In view of this, we have to continue rationing water in Nairobi despite the heavy rainfall,” Nairobi City County government stated.
According to the managing director, the purpose of the rationing is to ensure that each customer receive water at least once a week.
Furthermore, the company noted that the National and County Governments through Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) are developing the Northern Collector Tunnel Phase I Water Project in a bid to reduce the gap of water demand and supply in the city.
The project is supposed to be commissioned in March 2024 and is expected to deliver an additional 140 million liters water to the city, per day.
Hope at the End of Rationing Tunnel
However, on the positive side, the managing director reported that the Karemenu Dam Water Project being developed by AWWDA is in the final stages of completion.
The dam is envisioned to deliver 23 million liters of water per day to the city by end of 2023.
“We expect once the two projects are completed, every customer will receive water at least thrice a week,’ the county government assured citizens.
Also Read: Sakaja Slapped with Demands Over KICC Land Takeover
Still on a reassuring note, the water company also noted that the Nairobi City County and the National Government have secured funding to a tune of $100 million for development of the Northern Collector Tunnel Phase II Project in Murang’a.
The project will bring an additional 120 million liters of water per day by 2026 to Nairobi city county.
“Additionally, the development of Maragua IV dam through Public Private Partnerships is at the final stage of procurement and once completed in 2028 it will increase water supply to the city by 130 million liters per day,” the statement noted.
