Nairobi residents who have been enduring dry taps since May 8, will have to wait for another week to get water reconnected nearly three weeks after the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC) announced a shortage.
On Tuesday, May 26, NWSC explained that temporary reinstatement works would be completed and normal water supply restored by May 31, before permanent works are completed.
The shortage of water was occasioned by the cutting down of Sasumua Dam treatment works that supplies 11.6% of water to the city.
The move had been triggered by a massive landslide in Karemenu River inside the Abadere Ranges Forest which damaged the water transmission pipeline from Sasumua Dam to Nairobi.
"The amount of water not reaching Nairobi is 61,000m3 per day (12% of the city supply) hence the affected areas will receive water with low pressure during the supply day under the water rationing programme," reads the statement.
The water company stated that the works required re-routing of the pipeline to avoid recurring damages in the existing route.
This was the third time the pipeline had been damaged in the same area by landslides.
"The new route will involve laying of 3.5km water pipeline. The work will take 6 weeks at an estimated cost of Ksh362million. Site preparation and construction of access road is in progress to facilitate transportation of materials deep inside the Aberdare Ranges in Kieni Forest," reads the statement.
Some of the areas affected include; areas along Waiyaki Way, Naivasha Road, Kangemi, Lavington, Westlands, Parklands, M.P Shah Hospital, Agha Khan Hospital and ILRI, Upper Hill and Kilimani.
Nairobi Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, and surrounding environs, University of Nairobi Main Campus hall of residence, Upper and Lower Kabete Campus, University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University Parklands Law campuses are also affected.
Other areas include; estates around Kenyatta Market, Kibera, Lang'ata, Jamhuri, Ngando, Riruta/ Satelite, Dagoretti Corner and Kawangware. Areas along Lang'ata, Madaraka estate, Mbagathi and Ngong roads, Loresho, Nyari, Kitisuru, estates along Peponi Road, New Muthaiga and Thigiri Ridge areas.
Notably, the water company stated that towns within the metropolis including Thika, Gatundu, Limuru and Ruiru with water intakes in the rivers whose catchments is the Aberdare forests have also been interrupted due to blockage of the intakes and high turbidity during the heavy long rains.
