Athi Water Services Board, the Ministry of water and irrigation together with water regulatory bodies announced plans to curb water shortage in Nairobi.
Research conducted by Athi Water Services board shows that the current demand of water is higher than the supply due to population growth in subsequent years.
From 2015, there has been supply of 690,000 cubic meters of water per day with an increasing population of 0.4 per cent in Nairobi.
In 2017, water demand in Nairobi will be approximately 700,000 cubic meters. This will increase to approximately 820,000 cubic meters in 2020.
The population of the city was 3.8 million in 2015. This is expected to increase to 3.8 million and 4.4 million in 2017 and 2020 respectively.
Speaking during the press conference, Athi water services board CEO Eng Malaquen Milgo said that projects aimed at expanding water and sanitation services to meet the growing demand are underway.
Athi water together with the Ministry are working to counter water shortage problems within the city and are making strides to meet the water goals before the year 2020.
Specific phases of the projects are being funded by donors and development partners such as World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), KFW development bank and Africa Development Bank.
He also mentioned projects that have already been completed.
For instance, the restoration of the water treatment capacity for the city from 460,000 cubic meters to 550,000 cubic meters per day, rehabilitation of Sasumua and Ngethu water treatment plants and expansion of carrying capacity at Kiamaiko, Gigiri and Kabete pipeline.
The Board is currently undertaking the 4th Nairobi water supply programme that will see 25 per cent increase in water supply to the city. The cubic meters will rise from 550,000 to 690,000 per day.
The construction of independent community production plants along the pipeline routes and the development of 70 new boreholes have been completed.
These projects will release 52,000 cubic meters per day additional water to the city and increasing ground water production capacity by 568,000 cubic meter per hour respectively.
The CS Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Hon Eugene Wamalwa echoed the presentation by saying the strategies put in place will help improve water and sewerage situation in the city.
He also added that, the government is joining forces with water regulatory bodies to ensure that the strategy becomes a success.
The research also highlighted sanitation improvement following previous projects. For instance, Dandora sewerage capacity increased by 70 per cent from 112,000 cubic meters to 192,000 cubic meters per day through expansion of the STP.
Sewer coverage area increased from 40 to 59 per cent by construction of 122 kilometer trunk and 164 kilometer lateral sewers.
In addition, Kariobangi sewage treatment is ongoing and the capacity is being restored from 12,000 cubic meters per day to design capacity of 32,000 cubic meters restoring Nairobi city’s sewerage treatment capacity from 91,000 cubic meters to 112,000 cubic meters per day.
By the year 2020, the water situation in the city will have improved by 80 per cent as water bodies are actively involved in water projects and are working hard to ensure that it’s a success.