Embu Water and Sanitation Company (EWASCO) has entered into partnership with local hard ware shop owners for supply of fittings among other accessories.
With the partnership, the company clients wishing to have new water connections will be directed to hardware outlets near their locality for purchase of fittings.
Initially the water company was buying the fittings and clients going for new water connections were paying for the fittings from the company.
Dickson Njiru who is in charge of finance and commercial services at Ewasco while addressing the hardware owners said the new partnership will allow money to circulate in Embu County rather than going to Nairobi where the company was buying the fittings from.
Njiru further said the company will only play the role of directing its clients seeking water connection to the accredited hardware shops within their locality who are approved as agents of EWASCO.
Through this partnership, Njiru said the company will be able to fast track connections of water within the stipulated period of one week adding that initially it was taking even eight weeks before connecting water to a client due to shortage of fittings and other accessories at the company.
“We expect the accredited hardware shops to be selling fittings and other accessories of high quality and standards and the company will be carrying out inspection to ensure this is maintained,” noted Njiru
He further added that they will have a quality assurance team that will ensure that all materials for water installations that will be sold to residents meet the required standards.
On non-revenue water, Njiru said the company has been losing 40 percent of water revenue which is about Sh40 million every year mainly through vandalism of water pipes.
This is mainly done during dry seasons mostly at the lower region of Embu as some residents try to get water to irrigate their miraa farms.
He warned those vandalising the water pipes they will be apprehended and prosecuted citing the penalty meted out for offenders in the water act of 2016 is Sh100, 000 fines or serve three years in jail.
Kirangu Wachira who operates hardware in Siakago market, appreciated the partnership with the water company for not only will it make money circulate in Embu but also will promote their businesses.
By Kimani Tirus
