More than 5,000 residents in low-income settlements in Nakuru County are now able to access clean water at cheaper prices after embracing the pre-paid water services courtesy of the Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company.
Speaking Wednesday when he commissioned the meters at Manyani estate Nawasco managing director James Ng’ang’a said the move is aimed at containing the perennial water shortage in most Nakuru estates.
“The pre-paid meter is a communal water dispenser which requires payment in advance by the consumer to can access water at anytime of the day and this will reduce water shortage cases in Nakuru,” he said.
According to the MD, the pre-paid meter allows residents to access water at Sh1.20 per 20 liters, unlike buying water from vendors who charge them Sh5 for the same.
“The water meters have been placed at more than 200 decentralised points within a strategic proximity to serve hundreds of residents require the use of a SIM-card look alike token which is loaded with money used to purchase the water,” said Ng’ang’a.
He noted that the pre-paid meters have minimised cash handling and fraudulent activities in the field, and eliminates the need to print and post water bills and to follow up on meter readings and collections.
Among the settlements benefiting from the water tokens are Lake View, Manyani, Kaptembwa and Ronda.