Homa Bay Cluster Water Supply Project which is a water supply project in Homa Bay town, Western Kenya, has been commissioned in a ceremony graced by Raila Odinga, as the African Union Envoy for Infrastructure.
Carried out by Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency (LVNWWDA) at a cost of close to US$ 12.33M, the project included the construction of a water treatment plant at Got Asego, and water storage tanks at Rodi.
It also included the laying work of water pipelines from the lake to the treatment plant and from the treatment plant to the storage tanks and the construction of solar farms that will be used to power all pump installations.
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Expectations for the Homa Bay Cluster Water Supply Project
Funded by the Belgium Government in collaboration with its Kenyan counterpart, the project is expected to produce 8.8 million liters of water per day that when combined with the 2.5 million liters of water produced by the already existing treatment plant will offset the current water demand (5 million liters per day) and sustain the city, surrounding villages and learning institutions, for the next 20 years.
The project is also expected to significantly reduce electricity bills as the solar farms installed as part of it will be used to provide 80% of the electricity used with the remaining 20% set to be sourced from other energy sources only when there is no solar energy especially at night.
November 2019: Kenya commissions water projects in Homa Bay County
The government of Kenya has commissioned water projects worth US $789,000 in Homa Bay County to address the perennial water shortages in the region.
The projects are being implemented by the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Sanitation through the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency. They include;Sindo Water Supply Project in Suba South constituency and Got Kabok Primary School Water Supply Project in Rangwe constituency.
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Benefits of the project
The Got Kabok water project is estimated to cost US $99,000 while the water project at Sindo will cost US $698,000. Both projects will serve both the school and the surrounding community thus improving livelihood of the locals.
Sindo Water Supply Project, has been designed to serve a population of 12,000 people. It will have a capacity of producing 1,800 cubic meters of clean and safe water per day. The beneficiaries of the project will include the community, health facilities, market centres and learning institutions.
Speaking during the ceremony, Water Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu said that the projects will cushion area residents from trekking more than 12 kilometers in search of water from Lake Victoria.
“The Government is committed to undertaking more projects to eradicate water problems in this county. The projects include the ones whose constructions are ongoing in Rangwe and other parts of the county and their funds are derived from the current financial year,” said Irungu.
Water supply in Homa Bay County currently serve only half of the town population. Currently, 36% of the consumers are metered and the current level of water service coverage in the low-income areas for piped water supply is 20%. The poor water quality due to wearing out of filtration system and the water treatment laboratory is not functioning.
Good work: Please my are Osodo is suffering almost 8 broken water pumps are dry . the lake is many km away.
Can you kindly address assist on this.