Water shortage in Nairobi to persist despite current rains
Despite receiving rainfall over the last two weeks, Nairobi residents continue to reel under an acute water shortage due to decreased water levels at Ndakaini dam which has fallen to a low of 20 percent.
This comes at a time when city dwellers are looking forward to an end of the water rationing following predictions of long rains by the weatherman.
Nairobi County Executive Eng Peter Kimori has cited lack of rainfall in the Aberdares as the reason for the falling water levels at Ndakaini dam which supplies 85 percent of city water.
“The water levels in the dam are now critical since we only have 20 per cent. Inspite of the recent rains in the city, there has been no rainfall in the Aberdares,”said Eng Kimori.
Kimori however called for patience from the city dwellers saying drought is not a man-made problem but the county is doing all it can to address the issue.
WATER PRESERVATION
He also called upon the public to preserve water and avoid wastage by encouraging recycling of the commodity.
The Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company has been rationing water since January this year following failed short rains in December.
The situation is worrying as the weatherman predictions of the outlook for April 2017 indicates that most parts of the country are likely to experience near average rainfall.
According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, in March, most parts of the country recorded highly depressed rainfall.
The county in collaboration with the Ministry of Water has come up with emergency measures to address water situation by drilling 40 boreholes at a cost of Sh 200million.