The Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company has signed a deal with a Dutch company Vitens Evides International to improve water service delivery in Mombasa.

The deal, worth Euros 7.5 million (about Sh825 million) is for four years starting January. It will involve the improvement of the Kipevu water treatment plant and the repair of leaking pipes.

Speaking during the signing ceremony of the agreement at the company's boardroom on Wednesday evening, Mowasco managing director Alome Achayo said the Kipevu treatment plant has the capacity to treat 17,000 cubic metres of water daily but only treats 6,000 cubic metres.

The projects will also replace old pipelines, revamp water pumping stations. The Dutch company will provide professional expertise to manage the water.

Achayo said they aim to reduce the 47 per cent water loss to a manageable 15 per cent in the four-year contract. "Mombasa receives about 46,000 cubic metres of water daily, but 47 per cent of this is lost," said Achayo. "If we can save this water loss, it means many more people will get clean piped water."

Vitens Evides International CEO Gerhard van den Top said there water management in Kenya is a big challenge just like it is in other African countries.

"There is need to create more sustainable solutions to water problems in Kenya and in the continent," said van den Top. He said the deal will enhance relations between Kenya and Netherlands.

He said there is a lot of development in Kenya which which has constrained the water resources in the country. The development projects need a lot of water, he said.

Coast Water Services Board boss James Thubu said Mombasa will benefit from the expertise available in Netherlands. He said non-revenue water will reduce meaning more income for Mowasco.

The Duthch embassy first secretary Jaco Mebius hailed both the Kenyan and Dutch governments for the partnership saying this is just the beginning of more good things to come.