Government and players in the water sector have committed to save Sh11.2 billion of revenue lost through unbilled consumptions.
The state has been losing revenue through physical losses to the dilapidated infrastructure that has been in existence for close to 50 years and commercial losses to illegal connections or water theft, meter errors, meter reading inaccuracies and unmetered connections.
The Secretary for administration in the State Department for Water and Sanitation Stephen Kihara, who represented the Principal Secretary, said the consequences of non-revenue water are impacting not only the financial viability of utilities but also hindering the ability to provide safe, reliable water services to all communities.
“At a Non-Revenue Water level of 45 percent Kenya currently losses close to 205 million cubic meters of water which is equivalent to the amount required to serve the city of Nairobi with a daily requirement of 750,000 cubic Metres per day for nine months,” said Kihara.
Non-revenue water, comprising losses from leaks, theft, and unbilled consumption, amount to 11.2 billion annually according to Water and Sanitation Providers Association (WASPA).
This they argue that has left companies dealing in water staring at insolvency.
He was speaking during the inauguration of the the Non-Revenue Water Center of Excellence.
The Center will facilitate the adoption of advanced technologies and methodologies, such as smart metering, leak detection systems, and asset management strategies, to enhance the efficiency and resilience of our water infrastructure.
By harnessing innovation and embracing data-driven approaches, the centre will optimize water resource utilization and minimize losses throughout the supply chain.
This center will serve as a hub for research, training, and knowledge dissemination, fostering collaboration among stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society.
“By consolidating knowledge, expertise, and resources, we aim to develop innovative solutions and best practices that will empower water utilities across the nation to minimize non-revenue water and optimize their operations,” added Kihara.
