EWASCO Mains Pipe Network
The Embu water and sanitation company {EWASCO} was established in June 2005. Its core mandate, provision of adequate and safe water to the people of Embu. When it began its operations, only 23000 residents were able to access clean water for only 3 hours in a day and two days in a week, against 60000 people who needed it
Efforts to secure funding from the government were futile but nonetheless, the management put together a 5-year strategic plan to guide the company’s operations. Money to run EWASCOs expansion program was raised through credit borrowing which significantly improved its production capacity.
Through the support of various partners that include JICA, World Bank, Water Services Trust Fund and KFW of Netherlands the organization has been able to supply water within a radius of 1000 square kilometers from the initial 80 square kilometers mandated to them with the population growing to 200,000 people.
EWASCO is, therefore, working to raise funds to improve its capacity to cater for the growing demand. Through a program supported by the Netherlands EWASCO will get funding of about 280 million shillings to facilitate infrastructure development.
Sanitation is also another key responsibility of the organization. When it was established back in 2005 the sewerage system was in a very poor condition and only covered 16 % of Embu municipality. EWASCO quickly improved it, adding its treatment capacity from 1000 cubic meters a day to the current 1500 cubic meters per day. But with the growth in population this is not enough and through the World Bank EWASCO has secured funding of 450 million shillings to expand its capacity
The company currently supplies water to lower Manyatta constituency, parts of Mbeere south and North and there are plans to go into Runyenjes constituency. For those who cannot afford individual connections, water kiosks have been made available. EWASCOS main source of water is river Rupingazi. The intake of the water is at Mwiria and this is where the treatment of water begins. The water is then directed to Mukangu treatment plant where both physical and chemical treatment of the water is done.