Karuri Water and Sanitation Company took over two boreholes which were being operated by Karuri Town Council but only one was operational. The borehole was serving Karuri and Banana areas. The company started operations on 1st June 2008 with its offices located behind the original Karuri Market loc… read moreation on your way to Karuri High School. Karuri Water and Sanitation Company is one of the agents of Athi Water Services Board.
Operations
Consumers connections
At the start of the company, there were less than 100 active connections but at the end of the first financial year i.e. 2008/2009, the connections had risen to 1518 connections.This was through reviving dormant connections, rehabilitation of “Mombasa” borehole and taking over management of community water projects e.g Kimuga water project. By the end of the second financial year (2009/2010) the company managed to increase its customer base to 2258, customer base in 2010/2011 increased to 3180 and by December 2011 to 3247. This increase is attributed to:
1. Extension of distribution mains
2. Rehabilitation and management of of stalled community water projects e.g. Kimuga water project, Upper Waguthu water project, Gathiri water project and Muchatha water project.
3.Taking over management of newly completed/operating water projects e.g Waguthu water project, Karura Wangunyu Water Project and Ndenderu Kianjogu Gatwikira water project.
Water Production
The company’s water sources are mainly boreholes which are spread through our area of jurisdiction. Only Gathiri springs is a surface water source. The company operates 12 boreholes with two boreholes not operational. The production of water rose from 5,040m3 per month when the company started to the current average of 53,406m3 per month(1,708m3/day). The current demand according to recent studies carried out is 11,164m3/day. This amount is not adequate for our area and it is distributed through rationing. Through Athi Water services board and other development partners,reliable and adequate source of water, preferably a gravity water system from a dam, is being sought as this will enable our operational cost to drastically reduce and this will translate into lower water tariffs.This will enable the company increase its coverage to over 50%. The company’s area of jurisdiction covers the four civic wards i.e. Kiambaa, Muchatha, Ndenderu, and Kihara. According to 2009 population census, the population within our area of jurisdiction stood at 152,329. The estimated population served is 28,456.
Pay Points
Currently the company has the following pay points where our customers pay their water bills. This are:
– Any Post bank branch country wide
– Any Cooperative bank branch country wide
– Mpesa through paybill number 544500
– Family bank for customer deposits