Nairobi City Water and Sewerage
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The Kenyan government has unveiled plans to implement new water and sewer tariffs for residents of Ruiru and Juja in Nairobi.
This decision, announced by Water Service Regulatory Board CEO Richard Cheruiyot comes as part of an inflation adjustment to existing charges. The revised rates, set to take effect following extensive consultations with residents, will impact various sectors differently. Under the new pricing structure, commercial and residential areas will face a charge of Sh104 per unit of water. Public institutions, including schools and colleges, will be required to pay Sh110 per cubic meter. Government institutions and industries will be subject to a fee of Sh130 per cubic meter for water usage between 1 and 50 cubic meters.
Bulk water sellers will be charged Sh91 per cubic meter while water vending kiosks will incur a monthly levy of Sh110 per cubic meter. The Water Agency has also outlined changes to sewerage charges. Consumers with active water connections will be billed 75% of their monthly water consumption for sewerage services. Those with disconnected water accounts wishing to utilize sewer services will be charged based on their average sewerage fees from the three months preceding disconnection. Domestic consumers without water connections but using sewerage services will face a flat rate of Sh300 per month. Other categories, such as those relying on private water sources like boreholes, will be charged 75% of their water consumption for sewerage services.
In addition to usage fees, the new tariffs introduce connection charges for various consumer categories. Residential properties seeking new water connections will pay Sh2,500. Retail shops with consumption below 10 cubic meters will be charged Sh3,000 for connection, while those exceeding this threshold will pay Sh3,500. Larger institutions, such as schools consuming more than 200 cubic meters, will face a connection fee of Sh20,000. Property developers working on minor construction sites with consumption exceeding 200 cubic meters will be charged Sh15,000, while major construction projects requiring over 300 cubic meters will incur a Sh50,000 connection fee.
The industrial sector will also see significant changes in connection charges. Light industries consuming less than 200 cubic meters will pay Sh30,000, medium industries using between 200 to 300 cubic meters will be charged Sh50,000, and heavy industries requiring more than 300 cubic meters will face a Sh100,000 connection fee. The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) has defended the upward revision of tariffs, citing the need to enhance service delivery, ensure operational sustainability, and safeguard consumer interests. These adjustments are part of a broader strategy to address the growing demand for water and sewerage services in Nairobi while accounting for inflationary pressures.
The government and NCWSC defend the increased rates by saying that these adjustments are crucial for maintaining and improving the city's water and sewerage infrastructure. To promote efficient water usage and system sustainability, the new tariffs also include a tiered penalty structure for residential units. Those consuming between one to six cubic meters will be charged Sh45 per 1,000 litres while usage between seven and 20 cubic meters will incur a charge of Sh67. Consumption between 21 to 50 cubic meters will be billed at Sh70.