Thika Water and Sewerage Company (Thiwasco) has decried huge maintenance costs of infrastructure damaged as a result of silting during rainy seasons.
The company’s Managing Director Moses Kinya said whenever it rained, muddy soil deposits ended up in the water collection points, posing a major financial challenge in treatment.
Speaking during a tree planting exercise at the Maryhill catchment area, the MD said the company has embarked on an aggressive re-afforestation programme, targeting to plant 10,000 trees annually on its water catchment areas to address the problem.
“Whenever it rains, the company incurs huge costs to maintain its infrastructure at its water treatment plant, damaged as a result of silting. Sometimes, we are forced to interrupt water supply to improve the infrastructure as well as to clean the water,” said Kinya.
He at the same time highlighted plans by the company to increase water supply to residents saying bids to expand the infrastructure have been advertised and soon, works would commence.
The company has been relying on archaic infrastructure for water supply that was set up decades ago and which has been unable to meet the demand, leading to water rationing during dry spells.
It generates about 40,000 cubic metres of water daily against a demand of 60,000. The new infrastructure will come as a boost as the town seeks to achieve a smart industrial city status.
The company also expects to benefit from additional water from the multi-billion Kariminu 11 mega dam in Gatundu North Sub County, which has been supplying water to Ruiru, Juja and Nairobi.
The Chairman Thika Business Community Alfred Wanyoike appealed to traders to support the greening as the town gears to become an industrial smart city.
By Muoki Charles
