The Water Services Regulatory Board has published a set of Water Vending Guidelines that aims at ensuring that water distributed to consumers is of optimum quality.
In the new guidelines, to be enforced by the Athi River Works Development Agency, all small-scale water service providers within the Nairobi Metropolis will be required to apply for an operating license by the 15th of May 2020.
Any person who shall provide water services without the license will be liable for prosecution.
Nairobi Metropolis requires about 760,000 cubic meters per day.
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This demand that has seen an upsurge of water vendors, a situation that is proving to be a challenge especially due to lack of proper regulations that guide the water business.
Athi River Works Development Agency CEO Engineer Michael Mwangi Thuita says the new directives are aimed at ensuring that water distributed to consumers is of optimum quality especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Part of the new developments also include the use of an App that will link consumers to licensed water providers.
Eng. Thuita says the move will also help in tracking illegal water vendors, a move that has been welcomed by businessmen who say that it will help bring sanity to the sector.
The regulations will apply to water bowsers/tankers, exhausters, gated community water providers, private borehole owners engaging in community water supply and Non-Governmental Organization water projects.
All the small-scale water service providers within Nairobi Metropolis are required to register for a licence via the Athi River Works Development Agency website at no cost by 15th May 2020.
Any person who shall provide water services without a licence after the deadline will be liable for prosecution.
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