Nairobi severs illegal water connections

20 Jun, 2013

The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) is in the process of severing illegal water connections throughout the city as part of its ongoing crackdown aimed at improving the flow of treated water to its paying customers.

The campaign, which is to be extended to the greater Nairobi area soon, is dealing with the "rampant" illegal connections along the water distribution lines which contribute to the loss of clean water and the decrease in water pressure, according to the NCWSC head Philip Gichuki.

The illegal connections, which are found typically in informal settlements and slums, are believed to cost Kenya’s water utility around $2.9 million every month in lost revenue.

The locations of the illegal connections were pinpointed following a recent report by a consultancy firm which identified areas of high water usage and unpaid bills.