Author Reference
Lango,
B. (2016). Six steps to surviving the perennial water shortage in
Nairobi . Intel
Fire Group of Companies Blog. Nairobi, Kenya. October 02, 2016.
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| A water vendor in Tena Estate, Nairobi. Photo courtesy: Business Daily - online version |
It that period of the year that
Nairobi and its environs is experiencing water shortage due to shortage of
rains not in Nairobi itself but some 74 kilometers away in Murang’a that holds
the dam that supplies water to the city. The city according to the 2009 census
has a population of 3.138 million living in a 696 square kilometer but if you
are reading this article you realize the population is much higher now. According
to water resource management authority (WARMA) the estimated water demand for
Nairobi is 650 thousand cubic meters per day compared to the production of 482,
940 cubic meters per day which means rationing of water was there even then. Now,
the Kenya meteorological department has not predicted a better situation ahead
instead predicting the situation to get more dire and as at the moment if you
living in Nairobi and your village or rural home is also close by then it is a
double tragedy that requires certain adoption of new ways of living in the city
with the perennial water shortage. Having gone through this before it is
prudent that as rationing start adopt the following ways of life while at the
city
1. Invest in a water tank instead of the small
containers
Most families living in the city, if
the various media reports are to go by, have invested heavily in small 5litre
and 20litre containers to reserve water. This by essence takes a lot of space
in your home or residence and is prone to misuse as one uses one containers
there is a psychological assurance that there is still another unused. To
monitor the capacity of controlled water usage in your home invests in a water
tank and it does not have to be the big
man’s tank, the 210litre tank might just do the magic. Whatever it is you
are using to conserve water for future use ensure that it contains water that
is enough to serve you and your family for at least 2 weeks. This is to enable
you have consistent water for basic use until the next ration day which in most
instances can last up to one and a half weeks.
2. Wash only once a week
This targets those families with
house managers (read stay home mum or
girlfriend) who believe their job description for the day involves washing
cloths even if there is none to wash they will find the old ones for the day.
This is what can be typically referred as perennial washing which in reality
supports the perennial water shortage in your residence. Why would a family of
four consisting of husband, wife and two grownup children, be virtually washing
every day? Washing in bits as already stated uses a lot of water and where one
would be able to use 100litre water they will end using more or even double. So
folks to manage the perennial water shortage talk to your house managers and
enlighten them on the fact of the matter that this shortage is real and it
affects both of you and both have a responsibility for its management.
3. Boil all drinking tap water
Friends this period are trying
moment and do not take chances as the period also brings with it water borne
diseases which are as a result of drinking contaminated, dirty, unclean, or
whatever name, water. The water that is reaching your tap is after several days
of it being dry and well this might not result to unclean water but to be on
the safe side it is better to boil the water. It also goes to have a candid
rule NOT to drink any water that you have no information of its source and
especially on the roads, from your untrusted neighbor, or any other location. The
fact that there is perennial water shortage does not mean that the water
bottling companies have it in plenty. If buying bottled water buy from a
reputable company like…. (you mention it)
so that you avoid being in the future list of those suffering from water borne
diseases which according hospitals around your home includes cholera and to the
worse extent some serious illness such as guinea worm disease, typhoid, and dysentery.
You might not know these diseases but wait until you drink contaminated or
dirty water and get one them and the shock of 3.4 million deaths each year as a
result will send you to the grave earlier than you thought. TAKE HEART SISTER
BOIL WATER TO DRINK.
4. Recycle used water for toiletry and flowering
I know of folks who require the
services of a toilet for bowel movement for about 10 times a day and each time
they flash water. Remember this is different from the toiletry bladder movement
requirement which more so depend on how much fluid one drinks. Assuming that
the toilet cistern holds about 10litres then each will be using 100litres which
is water more than enough to feed a whole village buying in quantities of 5
shillings a litre. The learned friends at the institute of biological sciences
tells me that the normal urinary frequency for a normal adult like yourself is
about 6 to 7 times in a span of 24 hours while that of bowel movement is about
3-times a day. So if you are in the habit of going to the toilet at the feel of
a small urge of bowel movement, control yourself or else the smell from your
house toilet will lead to unimaginable one. For those staying in their own
compound and actually own the place, this is that time you start thinking of
constructing a pit toilet as it will save you the dangers of water running out
and only need to worry about the tissue paper. Remember the pit latrines or
toilets were not invented for the less fortunate but were modern during the
days of Noah and Abraham.
5. Reduce number of visitors to your home…these
are tough times
The fact that this is the month of January
in Kenya it already means to a large majority hustling with life that times are
tough but when you add perennial visitors coupled with perennial water shortage
then the times are a disaster. Take a peek at a family of three (Read husband, wife, and child) staying
in a modest estate within Nairobi or even outskirts and assume that they get an
average of 4 major visitors (those who
spend a night or two) a week this will translate to at least 7 members of
the family per week which requires the use of more water. The saying in town
goes that those from western part of Kenya have higher number of visitors a
week as their villagers believe that it is their responsibility to ensure when
they reach the city they are well taken care of. Make an effort this month and
announce publicly to the would-be visitors that you have cancelled all the
visits in a bid to reduce the amount of water requirement for your guests. If
this is not possible then transfer the risk by meeting in a nearby hotel or
restaurant which would again cost more and bit the logic of this article in
terms of cost reduction strategy skills. Remember folks that relatives can
never be strangers in your home but unannounced visits to one’s home or
residence is considered an intrusion of privacy in modern world we are living
in today.
6. Pay your water bill on time
The synopsis that “now that there is water scarcity no more
water bills” is a dead cow and wait until the end of the month the bill
will be higher than usual to your surprise. So long as you are connected to a
water meter by the government authority or private water vendor the story is
the same, there are standing charges which the big water experts have not been
able to explain how these goes up during water shortages. Avoid missing the
little water that is rationed because you have failed to pay for that bill as
the opposite is buying from the water vendors who are simply vultures feeding
on your worries and the longer the period, the better for them. Paying the
water bill is the only ticket to the water authority including you in the list
of those who dearly need it and non-payment reduces this need meaning the
number of those at risk of water shortage reduces.
Reduce the number of times you visit your bathroom
for that shower
This article does not advocate for
non-bathroom attendance as the men and a few of the ladies would like but
simply states that there is need to adjust the number of times you make a visit
to this vital center. If you are used to bathing for at least three times
during the day, there will be need to reduce this number to two and if you have
been bathing only once a day as some of the men do, then probably thinking once
every two days is not a bad idea depending on the receptive nature of your
partner and that no major activity takes place during the day and or night. An average
man according to experts’ uses about 20litres to bath and this figure is higher
when one is using a shower-based system rather than the hand-to-bucket manual system.
All said and done it is also important to note that those using the
shower-system have the other as their backup system should there be a failure.
For purposes of leaving no doubts bathing was introduced by the Greeks for
purposes of relaxation or leisure activity within gymnasiums so in any case you
decide to implement your ancestral standards of living by bathing once a week,
you will not be the first one…remember times are getting tougher as water is a
vital commodity in any society.
The writer is a PhD Generalist in
Service Delivery and Project Management.
