Residents of Murang’a town and its environs will continue to experience water shortage after a landslide hit Gachocho village in Kigumo Sub County and destroyed the main water pipe sourcing water from river Irati intake.
Consequently, Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (MUWASCO) has embarked on removing rocks which buried and broke the pipes thus cutting water supply to Kiwamberu water treatment plant.
Currently only 40 percent of the county residents can access clean water, supplied through rationing after last Wednesday’s incident that also left many other pipes destroyed.
Speaking when he visited the affected area on Saturday, Muwasco Managing Director (MD), Eng. Daniel Ng’ang’a said technicians are working to blast the rock that destroyed the pipes.
“The 14 inch pipe drawing water from the intake was completely cut off by rocks from the landslide that followed downpour in this area,” added Ng’ang’a.
The MD observed that the cost of destruction amounted to approximately Sh.10 million and called on the local county government and Tana Water Services Board to support in rehabilitating works and putting up structures to prevent further destruction
“Kiwambeu water treatment plant was treating 10, 000 cubic metres of water on daily basis but after the destruction, we are left with only Kayawe plant which purifies 4,000 litres of water per day thus informing the current water rationing,” Ng’ang’a explained.
The MD underscored the need to build gabions and cover the pipes along areas prone to landslides with concrete.
Murang’a Water Company is the main supplier of water to more than 100, 000 residents within the town and neighbouring villages.
Meanwhile, due to disruption of water supply, scores of residents have since Thursday been forced to look for the rare commodity from the few boreholes in the area.
The company estimates the repair works to be completed by early next week after which steady supply of water will resume. The director appealed to residents to bear with the situation.
By Bernard Munyao
