The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has been called upon to prosecute owners of car wash businesses in Nyamira town and environs for polluting rivers.
Speaking on Monday in an Environmental forum organized by Nema in Nyamira town, Wellington Ombasa, an Environment expert, expressed concern at the illegal dumping of dirt into rivers as a result of cleaning vehicles and discharges from residential places.
Ombasa said if the car washing trend continues without the right measures being taken water from all rivers in the County will be uncondusive for human consumption.
"Most livestock in the county depend on rivers for drinking water and even many families directly use water from the rivers that are being polluted by the car washers," he lamented
Ombasa described the pollution of local rivers, streams and water points as acute while warning that it was exposing residents to the danger of contracting waterborne diseases.
The forum discussed at length the operations of car cleaners at various spots along rivers in Nyamira saying their illegal acts were punishable by law.
“Car cleaners along the many rivers in Nyamira town and elsewhere are discharging grease, oil and other wastes transported by vehicles into the river system, chocking it with hydrocarbons,” said Ombasa