Brief on NCWSC…
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The Water Act 2002 was enacted in October 2002 and its
purpose was to separate water resources management and water
and sewerage services provision.
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NCWSC is a WSP providing water in Nairobi City and its
environs under a license issued by Athi water Service Board
(AWSB).
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NCWSC is 100% owned subsidiary of CCN.
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Before then the water and sewerage services were being provided
by the municipalities.
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Nairobi Water
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It was incorporated as a private Company on 2
December 2003 under the Companies Act, CAP 486 of
the laws of Kenya. Limited by shares to give it
autonomy and enable it operate commercially and was
officially launched on 19 August 2004.
The Company’s headquarters office is situated along
Kampala Road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area and has six
regional centers:
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Background
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Company’s area of operation has population is
estimated at 3.6 million (KNBS 2009 Census).
60% of the population lives in the informal settlements
occupying 5% of the area which is mostly government
land along the rivers/railway/power/oil/water/sewer
pipeline reserves.
Nairobi has four sources of water with a design capacity
of 525,000m3/day.
However, current production is about 500,000m3 /day
against current demand of 690,000m3/day.
99.9% of the water to the city is surface water with the
other insignificant being ground water.
Most of this water comes from Aberdare catchment
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Economic Framework
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NCWSC contributes towards the achievement of the
Government’s Vision 2030 & Medium Term Plan’s ‘working towards ensuring that water and sanitation services
are available to all.’
NCWSC generates about 50% of all the WSPs’ revenue in
Kenya.
Water is a critical ingredient in all sectors of the economy
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Social Framework
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Water is basic human right (Clause 43 b & d of the Constitution).
Affordability and sustainable access to safe water and basic sanitation
facilities among the poor aimed at raising their well-being has been a
priority of NCWSC-pro poor tariff structure.
Towards achieving the MDG 7 Target No 11 of achieving a
significant improvement in the lives of at least 100m slum
dwellers, NCWSC has a fully-fledged Informal Settlements
Department which spearheads the development and expansion of
water & sanitation services among the urban poor.
Crime level high in the informal settlements – partnerships with
CBOs and NGOs has helped foster relations.
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Environmental Framework
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Ecosystem protection provides a sure way for sustainable supply of
fresh water for human and economic utilization.
Recognizing this, NCWSC plays a role in the protection and
enhancement of the water catchments within its main raw water
abstraction area (the Aberdare forest – One of the five water towers in
Kenya).
Partnerships with the Government agencies, CBOs, NGOs and
communities living near the catchments has witnessed the continued
planting of tree seedlings aimed at replacing the aging species and
expanding the forest cover annually.
To conserve water, there exists a paradigm of encouraging water
recycling and reuse to augment water supplies particularly in high water
consumption industries.
Policy advocacy for rainwater harvesting – lobbying for construction
plans to include this.
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IMPORTANCE OF
CONSERVATION
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Water is life
Kenya is classified as a water scarce country with
an annual renewable freshwater per capita of
647 cubic meters against the United Nation’s
recommended minimum of 1,000 cubic meters.
Nairobi City accounts for about 60 % of GDP
with inhabitants from all corners of Kenya and
the World
Nairobi cannot survive without water
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Importance of Conservation
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Soil Conservation
Reduces soil erosion which affects storage capacity
of water in dams
 Reduced leaching of nutrients such as nitrates from
fertilizers that lead to eutrophication
 Reduced water treatment costs that saves money for
reinvestment
 Improved productivity of land due to retention of
nutrients
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Water Conservation
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Ways of Conservation
1.Afforestation.
Trees play an important role in the water cycle
 Trees assist in percolation of water through the soil thus
ensuring sustainable flows
 Surface runoff is reduced and hence less soil erosion
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2. Proper Water Harvesting
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Eg. Rain harvesting/Dams
3. Reduced use of agricultural chemicals (Organic
Farming)
4.Water Recycling
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EFFORTS BY NCWSC
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Facilitation and membership in WRUAs e.g.
LOCHWARUA and Upper Thika RUA
including providing office space and funding
Partnering with Local Community in tree
planting (Tree growing)
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E.g. Over 70,000 seedlings planted in the immediate
Dam Catchments purchased from local
communities
Partnering with KFS
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Over 50,000 seedlings planted in the forest
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Efforts by NCWSC contd
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Raising Awareness on environmental
Conservation through partnerships
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Active Stakeholder in formation of Forest
Management plans e.g. Kimakia Forest
Management plan
E.g. The Ndakaini half Marathon
Providing schools and other institutions with
water harvesting tanks
Lobbying for policy on water harvesting in
Nairobi
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Efforts continued
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A member of Ndakaini Poverty Reduction
programme’s Project Implementation
Committee that involved establishing tree
nurseries, soil conservation and diversifying
farming activities
Allowing immediate dam neighbors to benefit
from the riparian e.g.. plucking already existing
tea for free.
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Benefits
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Low sedimentation in Dams
Security of Dams and other infrastructure
through partnership
Reduced encroachment of riparian land
Sustained inflows due to reduced
runoff/enhanced percolation
Greater awareness and participation of all
stakeholders
Retention of soil fertility through reduced
leaching of minerals
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Reduced water rationing in the city
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PARNERSHIP IS KEY
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