Oliver Mathenge and Benjamin Muindi
11 September 2008
Nairobi — The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company has less than a month to ensure that no sewage is discharged into rivers.
According to National Environment Management Authority director-general Muusya Mwinzi, failure to block all illegal discharges by October 8 will lead to prosecution.
Dr Mwinzi said that the order had been issued in line with the implementation of the Nairobi River Basin programme, which aims at cleaning up the city's environs.
"Dumping of raw sewerage into the river from overflowing and blocked sewers forms a major concern due to the health implications," Dr Mwinzi told a press conference in Nairobi yesterday.
At the same forum, the water company's managing director, Mr Francis Mugo, said that due to past neglect and poor planning, the city's sewerage system was in a sorry state.
Nearly 40 percent of city households do not have access to proper sanitation.
"Many new development plans are not approved and there are numerous cases where illegal buildings have legal water and sewerage connections, thereby overloading the system," Mr Mugo said.
He said that the company, in collaboration with the Athi River Water Services Board, had set aside Sh2 billion for the rehabilitation of the sewers in the next six months. The stopping of illegal discharge into Nairobi River is estimated to require Sh350 million.
Nema has identified at least 76 discharge points that need to be blocked. Areas east of the city are the most affected.
Servicing
The water firm also expressed fears that the current rationing may persist.
"We are still servicing our supply networks, and this may take a while," the corporate affairs manager, Mr Mbaruku Vyakweli, said.
The Ndakaini dam, which supplies about 80 per cent of city water, was dropping by 4cm per day, he said.
The level has dropped past half, and the firm is depending on water collected during the long rains in March and April.
The October short rains would help if they came on time, otherwise rationing will be extended to December.
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