Water supply has been cut in parts of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, following Nairobi City Water & Sewerage Company Ltd (NCWSC) recent shut down of water production at Sasumua Dam Treatment Works.
The shutdown has resulted to water rationing in some parts of Nairobi making most city dweller go without water for an indefinite number of days.
The Water & Sewerage Company explained through a press release that it was forced to shut down water production at the dam owing to a landslide inside Aberdare forest which has damaged the water transmission pipes.
Further, they said that the suspension of transmission at the dam will lead to water shortage affecting 11.6 per cent of city estates and commercial centres for an unknown period of time.
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“NCWSC has shut down water production at Sasumua Dam Treatment works which supplies 11.6% of water to the Nairobi City County. This is occasioned by a massive landslide in Karemenu River inside the Aberdare Ranges, however, our engineers are working tirelessly on a solution,” read part of the press release.
Heavy rainfall which is being experienced in many parts of the country is the main cause of the water shortages. Too much rain causes increased river flow which as a result causes very high turbidity in the raw water flowing with soil deposits linked to landslide upstream.
Affected areas
Some of the affected areas include estates along Waiyaki Way, Naivasha road, Kangemi, Lavington, Westlands, Parklands, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, M.P. Shah Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital, as well as ILRI, Upper hill, Kilimani, University of Nairobi main campus hall of residence, Upper and Lower Kabete campus, University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University Parklands law campuses.
Nairobi City Water & Sewerage Company Ltd is mandated to provide clean water and sewerage services to the residents of Nairobi County in a financially sustainable manner and within the Government regulations.