Business Daily (Nairobi)
Walter Menya
29 June 2009
Driven to the edge by rising demand for water, Lake Victoria South Water Services board seeks to harness natural water and supply through gravity.
The initiative funded by a consortium of international development partners to the tune of Sh8.9 billion, covers Nyanza province, South Rift and parts of Western Province.
The initiative is expected to result in an additional 62,000 cubic meters by July 2011, enough to meet Kisumu town's demands up to 2032.
The demand for water in Kisumu, which stands at 44,000 cubic meters a day, is more than the current production of 22,000 cubic metres.
The region's water services board CEO, Mr Michael Ochieng', blamed the scarcity of water in the region to huge power tariffs that had led to non-payment of bills.
The water woes stem from low capacity distribution channels put up in 1931 and which could not serve the expanded town, he said.
"It was easier to anticipate using lake water because it was more economical than to pump smaller volumes, but the town has since grown bigger and the board is now forced to pump large volumes at a higher cost," Mr Ochieng' said.
He added that frequent disruption of water supply due to unpaid electricity bills will soon end once the natural water abstraction mechanism takes effect.
"The use of gravity is an affordable method that will reduce the production overheads for the board while at the same time ensuring the water users have constant supply of the commodity." The officer said many people will benefit from "affordable water and sanitation services once gravitational operation takes root in the region."
Gravity works based on height, which is what is needed to get enough pressure. It may work without or less electric power.
Water Resources Management Authority, the government institution responsible for regulation of water allocation, source protection and conservation is positive about the project.
The authority's Lake Victoria South regional manager, Dr Margaret Abira, said "the difference between pumping as a means of drawing and supplying water and use of gravity is in the cost. Gravity is cheaper."
The Kisumu water supply and sanitation project has taken off with the expansion of the Kajulu Hills intake point along River Kibos at a cost of Sh3.5 billion, being a grant from the French government through their official development organisation.
The Kajulu site was put up in 1931 and generates 1,500 cubic meters per day. Kisumu gets most of its water from the Dunga intake point in Lake Victoria through pumping.
"Works on the other projects are in the design stage, but Kisumu's has taken off," said Mr Ochieng.
Among the works lined up for the Kajulu site is the construction of a new weir to generate 48,000 cubic meters per day, 2,000 cubic meters more than the current population needs.
The Dunga water intake will also be expanded to add 24,000 cubic meters to its current 20,500 cubic meters in the next six months.
"In two years, 94,000 cubic meters will be generated to match the demand up to 2032," said Mr Ochieng.
New damThe board will spend up to Sh300 million to improve the distribution channels to drastically reduce water that goes unaccounted for, he said.
In addition, a dam will also be constructed upstream to guarantee the town's water needs up to 2050 with financial support from the European Investment Bank to the tune of Sh5.4 billion.
Mr Ochieng' told Business Daily that the regional water services board had adopted the gravitation design for the catchment areas.
"It is now government policy to move most of the systems to be gravity driven. This will reflect on the cost of production and the price the consumer pays," he says.
The board serves an estimated population of about 7.4 million through nine urban contracted water and sanitation services providers and 34 rural ones.
The urban ones include Siaya-Bondo Water and Sanitation Company (SIBO), Gusii Water and Sanitation Company, Migori Kuria and Trans Mara Water and Sanitation Company (MIKUTRA) and Nyanas for Nyando and Nandi South.
Others are Chemosit Water and Sanitation Company, Gulf Water Services Company, South Nyanza Water Services company, Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company (KIWASCO) and Kericho Water and Sanitation Company.
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