City residents, brace yourselves for a tidal wave of new water tariffs that are about to be unleashed by the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC). In a notice that would have made Captain Ahab green with envy, the NCWSC declared new charges that will be the talk of the town for the next two years.
The agency noted that the charges will be applied per cubic meter and for those who don’t know, a cubic meter is equivalent to 1,000 litres, which is a lot of H2O! Here’s a quick rundown of the new rates:
- For residential units using 1-6 cubic meters (1,000-6,000 litres), you’ll be charged Ksh45 per 1,000 litres.
- For those using 7-20 cubic meters, get ready to pony up Ksh67 per 1,000 litres.
- And if you’re using 21-50 cubic meters, the charge will be Ksh70 per 1,000 litres.
But wait, there’s more! For those who are real guzzlers, using between 51,000-100,000 litres will set you back Ksh76 per 1,000 litres, and for those who drink water like a fish, 101,000-300,000 litres will cost Ksh78 per 1,000 litres. If you’re in a league of your own and use more than 300,000 litres of water, the tariff will be a hefty Ksh80 per cubic meter (1,000 litres).
Multi-dwelling units and kiosks will also see new rates, with multi-dwelling units being charged Ksh67 per 1,000 litres, and kiosks being charged Ksh22 per 1,000 litres. Schools and universities will pay a different tariff, with 1-600 cubic meters costing Ksh50 per litre, 601-1200 cubic meters costing Ksh55, and anything over 1200 cubic meters will set you back Ksh60.
Government and commercial entities will also face different tariffs, with 1-50 cubic meters being charged Ksh67 per 1,000 litres, 51-100 cubic meters costing Ksh76, and anything over 300 cubic meters being charged Ksh80. And for anyone who wants to turn on the tap, a new water connection will cost Ksh2,500, while a reconnection from the meter will be Ksh1,000. If you need to reconnect to the mains, the fee will be a steep Ksh5,000, and don’t even think about tapping directly into the supply line using a pump, as that will set you back Ksh10,000.
But wait, there’s even more! For those who have illegally connected water to their homes, the fine will be a steep Ksh30,000 plus estimated consumption during the period of illegality. And for those who have illegally connected water to commercial buildings and industries, the fine is a whopping Ksh100,000. If you try to reconnect yourself after a cut-off for non-payment, or tamper with meters, the fine will be Ksh5,000.
So, there you have it, folks, the new water tariffs that are sure to leave a ripple in the city. But don’t worry, just turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, and you’ll be fine!
