The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has shone a spotlight on the water issues that the residents of the capital Nairobi are grappling with.

Do you have a lead on a newsworthy story? Share news tips with us here at Hivisasa!

In an article posted on its news portal international news outlet examined the scale and the scope of the water problem.

The long-winded piece claimed that Nairobi was facing severe water problems around quality and access.

The problem is so severe, the BBC writes, that residents are forced to seek water from unsafe sources.

"Kenya's rapidly growing capital city is facing severe problems with the supply and quality of its water supply, driving people to buy it from unsafe and potentially contaminated sources, " the lead paragraph of the feature article read.

Nahason Muguna, the head of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC), is quoted expressing his concerns about the pace of the improvements in water supply.

"What can resolve problems of water supply in the city is the development of new water sources," the NCWSC boss says. "The water we are using was supposed to serve the population of the city only up to the year 2000, " he adds.

Back in 1990, over 90% of the population in the capital city had access to clean water, a stark contrast to now when only 50% are said to have access to piped water.

Scores of residents, the BBC reveals, obtain water from vendors, kiosks and illegal connections.

The outlet went on to say that a system of water rationing has been in place since 2017 with different places receiving water at different times of the week in a bid save the dwindling reserves.