Water rationing will continue in Nairobi, despite dams that supply water to the city overflowing due to the El Nino rains.
According to the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) managing director Nahason Muguna, this is a result of many factors.
He said the water first has to be treated before it is allowed into taps.
He added that the NCWSC has a treatment capacity of 525.6 million litres per day, which is against a demand of 870 million litres in Nairobi.
"Nairobi City County has four sources of water namely Kikuyu Springs, Ruiru, Sasumua and Thika Dams. The water is treated in Ngethu, Sasumua, Kabete and Kikuyu Water Treatment Works.
The four have an installed maximum daily production capacity of 440 million, 61 million, 20 million and 4 million litres respectively," Muguna said.
He said the city water supply system is limited to the installed production capacity and this is why the supply will remain constant.
Muguna said despite this, they are working to reduce the water demand and supply gap.
"To reduce the gap of water demand and supply in the city, the National and County governments through the Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) are developing the Northern Collector Tunnel Phase 1 Water Project which is supposed to be commissioned in March 2024 and is expected to deliver an additional 140 million litres water to the city per day."
"Further, the Karimenu Dam Water Project being developed by AWWDA is in the final stages of completion and is supposed to deliver 23 million litres of water per day to the city by end of 2023."
He said once the projects are complete, city residents will receive water at least thrice a week.
Muguna added that Nairobi county and the National government have also secured $100 million in funding for the development of Phase II of the Northern Collector Tunnel in Murang'a.
The tunnel will provide an additional 120 million litres of water per day.
