Nairobi faces a chronic water shortage that affects millions of residents daily. The city's water demand far exceeds available supply, creating a crisis that has persisted for decades and shows signs of worsening due to climate change and population growth.
See Also
Nairobi Timeline Nairobi Ethnic Mix Nairobi Economy Nairobi National Park Kikuyu Nairobi Colonial City
Sources and Supply
Nairobi's water supply traditionally came from the Ndakaini Dam and other sources in the central highlands. However, climate variability and droughts have reduced water availability. The city's water utility (Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company) struggles to meet demand, and distribution infrastructure is characterized by significant leakage and theft.
The Shortage
Large parts of Nairobi receive water supply only a few hours per day, or sometimes every other day. Some informal settlements receive water once per week or less. This severely constrains household water use for drinking, cooking, sanitation, and hygiene.
Informal Water Vending
The water shortage has created an informal water vending economy. Water vendors purchase water from formal sources (when available) and resell it to households at marked-up prices. In some areas, water vending generates significant income for vendors but creates substantial expense for poor households.
Costs to the Poor
Low-income households in informal settlements often pay more for water (on a per-liter basis) than wealthier households with piped water connections. A poor family might spend 15 to 20 percent of income on water, compared to 2 to 5 percent for wealthy households.
Health Impacts
The water shortage creates severe health impacts. Limited water availability reduces sanitation and hygiene, increasing waterborne disease transmission. Diarrhea, typhoid, cholera, and other water-related diseases remain common in informal settlements.
Climate Change Threats
Climate change is exacerbating the water shortage. Changing rainfall patterns, longer droughts, and reduced runoff into water sources threaten future water availability. Experts warn that without significant infrastructure investment and demand management, Nairobi's water crisis will worsen.
Proposed Solutions
Solutions include investment in water harvesting and storage, reducing leakage in distribution networks, demand management (water-efficient appliances and behaviors), and developing alternative water sources (treated wastewater recycling).