The Ministry of Water through the Northern water service board, Garissa Water and Sewerage company, the county government and other aid agencies have stepped up campaigns to supply clean and safe drinking waters for displaced victims in 10 camps in Garissa town and its environs.
Water and sanitation Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui while on a tour of the damaged water intake and sewerage infrastructure in Garissa town today said his ministry has distributed plastic water tanks to the camps as a stop up measure to prevent the outbreak of cholera and waterborne diseases.
He said that over 137 toilets collapsed during the recent flood and was a threat to the safety of drinking water bodies in the town.
The CS said the sewerage ponds are submerged and the sludge was likely to flow back and spill into the residential areas. “There is the likelihood of pollution of shallow wells.
This is a crisis and disaster in waiting as an outbreak of cholera and waterborne diseases are imminent,” Chelugui said.
“We have witnessed extensive damage at the water intake and sewerage systems. We have come up with countermeasures to restore conventional water systems in Garissa town,” he added.
The CS said the relevant departments are looking at the possibility of building water dykes to protect water intake, the treatment plant, and the sewerage ponds.
Chelugui said the ministry is making an assessment of the damages to the water infrastructure with the aim of soliciting for funds to restore them ‘as soon as possible’.