City estates to experience dry taps as floods destroy water pipes

Damaged water pipe that supplies a section of Outering Road. [Samson Wire, Standard]

Several estates in Eastlands, Nairobi, will experience water rationing after the main water pipe that supplies a section of Outering Road was destroyed by floods along Ngong River in Kware, Embakasi.

Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) has announced that repairs to the damaged pipe will be delayed due to the level of water at the spot where it was broken.

“The pipe comes from Gigiri reservoir, through Karura, and Outering road to serve the nearby estates all the way to Eastern Bypass,” NCWSC Water Managing Director Nahashon Muguna said.

Affected estates include Tassia, Nyayo Embakasi, Fedha, Park Estate, Village, Jua Kali and Pipeline.

“The broken pipe joins to another one supplying CBD and Mombasa road and its environs, the damage cuts the supply completely,” Muguna said.

Muguna however, said that at the moment, affected households will share another pipe that serves Mombasa Road areas, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and EPZ.

“The repairs cannot be done until the water subsides on the particular spots. Affected estates will get the water at low pressure. The rationing will be worse and stricter than before,” he said.

He explained that usually, the volume of water needed in the city on a daily basis is around 900,000 cubic metres but currently the water company gets about 600,000 cubic metres.

“Due to the current rains, the company says it uses expensive chemicals to treat the water and also to increase the retention period to set the sieve through the particles,” Muguna said.

Technicians repair the damaged pipe. [Samson Wire, Standard]

Nairobi County Chief Officer in charge of Water and Sanitation Oscar Omoke said they will work closely with the water company to ensure the normal supply resumes.

“We are pleading with all the affected residents to bear with the situation and ensure that the water that is supplied is shared equally as the repairs are underway,” Omoke said.

At Tena estate, some areas including Thugi Court are grappling with sewage overflow owing to the floods.

Some residents say the overflow has leaked into the pipes that supply clean water putting their health at risk.

“It is pathetic mostly around Thugi stretch and we no longer allow our children to play outside, we also suspect that sewerage water has mixed with clean water,” a resident shared.

Area MCA Mark Mugambi however, said the main drainage around the area was blocked by a developer who built on top of it.

“The issue has been discussed at the county level and the house standing on the drainage will be demolished,” Mugambi said.