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Davis and Shirtliff calls on Kenyans to install rain water harvesting systems

The  Water  Technology  firm Davis and Shirtliff  has asked  the government to consider putting  in place a law that will require  all  new buildings to be fitted with rainwater harvesting systems that divert rainwater into storage tanks.

The Water and Energy solutions company said the installation of the water systems on houses, apartments, offices, schools  and industrial sites will reduce consumption and lower water bills.

The  Davis and Shirtliff CEO, David  Gatende said the government should partner with the private sector to provide water  harvesting technologies, as wells as consider changing building plan approvals.

“People  respond  to  legislation  and  it  is  the government’s  responsibility  to  nudge  people  in  the right direction,” said  Gatende.

He  observed that in 2012 the Energy Regulatory Commission enacted regulations requiring that premises with hot water  demand exceeding 100 litres per day install solar water heating systems to cater for at least 60 per cent of the demand.

In  a press statement sent to newsrooms, Gatende said enactment of the ERC regulation, made lot of property owners to incorporate solar installations and added if the government pushes for the adoption of water harvesting structures in the designs of buildings the uptake will be similarly hastened.

“By  2030, the country’s population will be approximately 68 million, a need that requires a sustainability in water

harvesting. There’s already pressure being experienced regarding access to safe water,” he said.

According  to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, the last National Water Master Plan was developed in 1992 when the country’s population was 20 million people while the total water demand was around 1 billion  cubic metres per year. By 2030, it is estimated Kenya will need approximately 13 billion cubic metres of water annually.

The  call by Davis  and Shirtliff comes in the wake of the heavy rains being experienced in different parts of the country following a prolonged dry spell.

Gatende  said  though the National Water Master Plan 2030 acknowledges that climate change will affect water resources it  is not clear on guidelines to ensure the initiative, including water harvesting are taken up at all levels.

By  Bernadette  Khaduli

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