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Description

Mandate

Environmental conservation, development, protection and management through:-

• Ensuring compliance to the various policies
• Exercising general supervision and coordination over all matters relating to the environment.

 

Provision of Water Services

• Ensuring adequate water of acceptable quality.
• Water Treatment
• Continuous access to water
• Monitoring
• Maintenance of the pipe network
• O&M of the Sewerage infrastructure

 

Ensuring compliance to the various policies

• Development of Water & Sewerage infrastructure.
• Planning, Designing & Construction of Water Supply Scheme and Sewerage Systems
• Rehabilitation of the existing water systems
• Extension of Sewer lines

 

Solid waste Management

• Collection of garbage from chambers and Central Business District
• Transportation of garbage  to the dumpsite
• Disposal and management of dumpsites
• Street sweeping in estates and Central Business District.
• To intensify conservation and sustainable management of the forest resources enrichment planting.
• To maintain and enhance productivity of industrial forest plantation through establishment of plantations.

 

Key Water and Sewerage Service Providers

• Nyeri Water and Sewerage Company Ltd (NYEWASCO). It has its source from Chania River. It serves Nyeri Town Constituency, parts of Kieni, Tetu and Mathira Constituencies.
• Othaya Mukurweini Water and Sewerage Company Ltd (OMWASCO). It has its source from Chinga Dam, Gikira, Mumwe, Changachicha and Thuti Rivers. It serves both Othaya and Mukurweini Constituencies.
• Mathira Water and Sewerage Company Ltd (MAWASCO). It has its source along Ragati and Hombe Rivers. It serves Mathira Constituency but the supply is inadequate.

 

Other Key Water Service Providers without Sewerage systems

• Tetu Aberdare Water and Sewerage Company Ltd (TEAWASCO). It has its source from Chania and Titie Rivers. It serves some parts of Tetu Constituency.
• Naromoru Water and Sewerage Company Ltd (NAROWASCO). Has its source from Naromoru River. It serves Naromoru Township and its environs

 

Key Water Sources

• Chania River originates from the Aberdare Ranges; it is a tributary of Sagana River.
• Gura River originates from the Aberdare Ranges. It is a tributary of Sagana River.
• Thuti River originates from the Aberdare Ranges. It is a tributary of Gura River.
• Mumwe River originates from the Aberdare Ranges. It is a tributary of Gura River.
• Ragati River has its source from Mt. Kenya Forest. It is a tributary of Sagana River.
• Titie River has its source from the Aberdare Ranges. It is a tributary of Gura River.
• Zaina River has its source from the Aberdare Ranges. It is a tributary of Chania River.
• Naromoru River has its source at the Mt. Kenya Forest. It is a tributary of Ewaso Nyiro River.
• Sagana River has its source from Mt. Kenya Forest. It is a tributary of Tana River.
• Amboni River has its source from Aberdare Ranges. It is a tributary of Sagana River.
• Nairobi River has its source at the Aberdare Ranges. It is a tributary of Sagana River.
• Mwiyogo River has its source at the Aberdare Ranges. It is a tributary of Ewaso Nyiro River
• Ewaso Nyiro River has its source at the Aberdare Ranges. It is a tributary of larger Ewaso Nyiro River. 
•  Burguret River source Mt. Kenya tributary of Ewaso Nyiro and many others.

 

Surface Water

Water from both rivers and streams is abstracted by organized community based water projects through gravity fed pipe systems designed to abstract water mainly for domestic use and minor irrigation (1/16th of an acre).
Water from both rivers and streams is abstracted by organized community based water projects through gravity fed pipe systems designed to abstract water mainly for domestic use and minor irrigation (1/16th of an acre).

Due to high demand for irrigation water, farmers do not honor the requirement of irrigating 1/16th of an acre resulting to over abstraction by users in the Mixed farming Zones. Unequal water distribution in the targeted supply area has resulted to introduction of water rationing programmes to balance the water supply in both Mixed Farming Zones and Marginal Mixed Farming Zones and extension of untapped distribution pipe lines to the affected areas.

The water levels in the rivers and streams are at base flow hence not capable of meeting minimum water demand but currently the flows are going down drastically in some rivers and streams due to lack of recharge from the rains. A good example is Nairobi, Thego, Ragati and Mere River among others.

Dam and Pans

The existing Dams and Pans are 80% silted up but have impounded adequate water to last for the next 2 months. There were no adequate sites reserved for construction of new ones. Rehabilitation of existing dams and pans is required.

 

Some of the dams and pans are:

1. Chinga Dam
2. Hombe Dam
3. Hohwe Dam
4. Ndiriti Aguthi Dam
5. Kamuhiuria Dam
6. Karuthing’itu Dam
7. Karemenu Dam
8. Satima Dam
9. Samaki Dam
10. Nairutia Pan
11. Kabati Pan
12. Charity Pan
13. Ragati Dam among many others

 

There are various bore holes some of which are operational but others have broken down. Ground water has not been fully exploited.

Underground Water:

Out of 24 boreholes in Kieni Sub-Counties, 17 are operational -4 are under rehabilitation, 1 broken down and 2 are not equipped. The 17 operational ones are not fully utilized due to high operational costs. Springs and shallow wells are localized in specific areas and 80% require development and rehabilitation to supplement the existing water supply.

Community benefiting from the boreholes could be supported with fuel and minor repairs.

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