Baricho well field in Kilifi is the largest source of water in the Coast.
It has a capacity to produce 90 million litres of water daily.
The well, which is located downstream of the Sabaki River at Lango Baya, accounts for approximately 64 per cent of the total water produced by the Coast Water Works Development Agency.
Other major water sources at the Coast are the Mzima springs, Tiwi boreholes and Marere springs, that account for the remaining 36 per cent.
As the world marks the International World Water, the agency said it identifies the immense contribution of the Baricho well field to increasing water access in the Coast Region.
The agency said water is extracted through an intricate pumping system from 15 boreholes located downstream of the river.
The wells are sunk on the southern bank of River Sabaki.
“The wells were developed in 1990 as an alternative to surface water which was being abstracted directly from River Sabaki,” the agency said in a statement.
Unlike surface water that requires immense chemical treatment to make it safe for human use, ground water requires minimal chemical treatment.
"Water is clear from the source,"the agency said.
Before water is pumped to houses for domestic use it has to be tested for acidity, composition of dissolved mineral salts and residual chlorine.
After every three hours, water samples are collected from the boreholes for testing.
Water is then transmitted to chlorine dosing tanks to be treated for any existing bacteria or virus and for onward storage tank that has a capacity of five million litres.
Storage allows for complete chemical reaction before the treated water gravitates to the pump station for distribution to customers.
The water is pumped 104 kilometres from Baricho to Mombasa.
The agency said approximately two million units of electricity are used every month to pump water from fifteen boreholes and treatment.
This translates to Sh45 million paid every month as electricity bills.
(Edited by Francis Wadegu)
