Water users served by the Meru Water and Sewerage Services (Mewass) will pay more per unit following a recent review of tariffs by the Water Services Regulatory Board (Wasreb).
The increment on water tariffs comes after a seven-year delay as the current tariff was to be reviewed in 2017.
New tariffs take into consideration changes in cost of operations, commodity prices and demand for more investment by the water service provider.
Later this year, users will pay Sh95 per unit for usage of up to six cubic metres of water compared to the current charge of Sh33 per unit.
Those who consume between seven and 20 units of water will pay Sh127, 21 to 50 units (Sh135), and 51 – 100 units (Sh150), 101 – 300 units (Sh155) and Sh160 for those who consume more than 300 units of water.
This is an increase from Sh50, Sh65, Sh80, Sh100 and Sh130 respectively.
Speaking during a validation meeting in Meru, Mewass Managing Director Patrick Mugendi said it costs Sh127 to produce and deliver one unit of water (1000 litres) to consumers.
“Since 2017, prices for pipes, glue, water treatment materials among others have more than doubled. What we charge is determined by a cost recovery model. The new tariffs will also help in repayment of sewer project loan which is due,” Mr Mugendi said.
The Mewass MD said besides the Sh800 million Rwanyange Sewerage project, the service provider is working with the government and other partners to increase production.
“A Sh2.3 billion Mutuaru dam project is in the process of being undertaken. This will resolve much of our supply challenges. The dam will increase our daily production by 25,000 cubic metres. We are also improving Kathita supply and sinking four boreholes to add 2,000m3 to our supply,” he said.
Mewass has been facing supply challenges as it relies largely on Kathita River which is facing over abstraction.
The water service provider produces 9,400 cubic metres of water against a demand of 18,500 cubic metres of water daily.
More than 16,600 people are served by Mewass against a catchment of more than 140,000 people.
