Nakuru County Government has invested heavily in new technologies, including modern pipelines and advanced meters (Smart meters), to reduce non-revenue water from its three Water Service Providers. This will reduce water wastage and increase the economic sustainability and viability for water utilities in the County.
Non-Revenue Water (NRW), also known as illegal connections, rundown supply infrastructure, and malfunctioning meters, refers to water that is lost.
Water Services and Regulatory Board (WASREB), defines Non-Revenue Water as levels below 20 percent as good, between 20-25 and unacceptable, and above 25 percent as unacceptable.
Dr Nelson Maara, County Executive responsible for Water, Environment, Energy, Natural Resources and Climate Change, regretted that the country was losing 430,000 cubic meters of water per year, which is equivalent to Sh12.2billion. He stated that the County government would reduce Non-Revenue water levels by an average of 54% to 20%. This will help to fix inefficiencies in water supply and save a lot of public money.
Dr Maara said that a Non Revenue Water (NRW), audit revealed that three Water Service Providers have lost more than half of their treated water to leaks and theft. This has led to monthly losses of over Sh40 millions and scarcity.
He said however that plans were being made to upgrade and rehabilitate old wastewater treatment, water supply and sewage systems managed by Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company Ltd. Nakuru Rural Water and Sanitation Company Limited. Naivasha Water, Sewerage and Sanitation Company Ltd. Naivawasco. This move, he explained, was intended to ensure safe and adequate drinking water, good sanitation, and good water administration, which are essential for public health.
“Depressed water supply has been linked to economic and health challenges and fixing the water demand and supply gap will reduce production costs and spur investment and job creation,” said Maara.
He stated that the county government would initiate a scheme for affordable water supply to residents by installing prepaid meters in high-density areas.
Making his presentation during a two-day induction workshop for WSPs and stakeholders within the sector at a Nakuru hotel, Dr Maara voiced Governor Susan Kihika’s commitment to fostering public-private partnerships in the water and sanitation subsector to help bridge the financing gap as well as fast-track investments to accelerate the realisation of the water for all goals.
The workshop themed ‘Legal and institutional framework for water services’ attracted participants from Water service providers run by county governments and the private sector and was jointly organised by the Water Services and Regulatory Board (WASREB), County Government of Nakuru and Vision 2030.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), sub-Saharan Africa is losing four percent of its GDP due to insufficient water supply and sanitation. This is due to the high disease burden caused by water-related problems and sanitation issues.
Dr Maara also stated that they were focusing their efforts on ground water mapping in order to ensure that everyone has access to a quality sanitation system to protect the groundwater from any pollution.
He pointed out that the 4-decade-old County sewerage system was buckled under the increased industrialization, urbanisation, and a growing number of people. This was posing a threat to underground water supplies and the Lake Nakuru Biodiversity.
According to the CECM, only 30 percent of Nakuru’s sewerage system is used by households that produce 300 million liters of wastewater per day. Therefore, it was necessary to create a modern and efficient system for managing wastewater.
He expressed concern that most waste water ends up downstream in rivers and main water sources, putting residents at risk for waterborne diseases like dysentery, cholera and Typhoid.
“We intend to expand the sewerage system to various estates in Nakuru city which have for long been relying on alternative methods of waste disposal, including septic tanks”, he assured.
Many estates in the city, even the most luxurious, are not connected to the sewer system. These include Bismarck (Kenya Industrial Training Institute (KITI), Kiamunyi as well as Ranges View which borders the affluent Milimani.
Dr Maara spoke out about water shortage and revealed that they have a number of projects to alleviate the problem. These include the last mile water pipe connectivity to rural homes from Itare Dam once it is completed, and the expansion Turasha Dam at Gilgil to increase water supply to Gilgil subcounty and Nakuru Town.
He urged the private sector to make use of their expertise and to help improve sanitation in order to protect groundwater from contamination.
The national government, through various agencies, has developed a number of policies to promote the enjoyment of the right to “clean and safe water in adequate quantities and to reasonable standards of sanitation” as stipulated in Article 43 of the Constitution.
Kenya has an ambitious national water master program with 2030 targets. It also has its eyes on the Sustainable Development Goal number 6 on clean water. Kenya currently ranks 52 percent in integrated water resources management, which is a component of the sixth Sustainable Development Goals.
By Charloth and Esther Chepkemoi
Source: kenyanews
