Several estates around Nairobi face water supply disruptions following the failure of a pump at Kabete Water Treatment Works.
The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Limited (NCWSC), in a notice, said the disruptions would last for about 24 hours, starting on the morning of Wednesday, May 7, as the firm works to resolve the problem.
The malfunction, which occurred on Sunday, May 4, saw water splash onto six electrical motors and their control panels, effectively rendering them inoperative.
“Water Supply interruption is expected to affect certain city estates due to ongoing repair works on six pump motors and their electrical control panels at Kabete pumping station," the NCWSC statement said.
The company revealed that its technical team had been deployed to begin repair works.
“The pumps, at Kabete, assist in increasing water pressure and move the flow towards Dagoretti and Uthiru reservoirs,” the water company stated.
Residents affected include those living along Naivasha Road estates, Kawangware, Gatia, Kabiro, Riruta Satellite, Dagoretti Corner, Ngando and Kangemi.
Areas as far as Mountain View, Karen, and Ongata Rongai will also be affected by the failed pump, according to the utility company.
Normal supply is expected to resume on Wednesday night or Thursday morning, the company's statement indicated.
“This is therefore to inform our customers residing in the affected Estates of the 24-hour interruption of water supply. We regret the inconvenience caused and thank our customers for their patience,” the notice said.
Besides infrastructure failure, the water company has encountered several other challenges in its operations in recent times, including the unsettling issue of illegal water connections.
In a bid to curb the menace, a 30-day notice was issued to landlords and customers with illegal water connections to regularise their supplies, by April 30 or face action, including penalties.
The company is keen on fighting illegal water connections to evade many potential risks, especially the possibility of compromising water quality.
