Chinese university seeks to boost water treatment in Kenya

A Chinese university has partnered with a Kenyan company to improve water treatment and management in Kenya through the introduction of modern technology.

Shanghai-based Tongji University has already embarked on a one-week training for staff from Nairobi Water Company in a move geared towards improving water quality and services.

"The one-week training is meant to introduce the staff to modern technology in water treatment and also improve efficiency," Prof. Li Fengting from the Chinese university said in Naivasha, adding that his university is training 26 staff from the water company under the tutelage of five experts from the university.

Li said that China had a lot of experience in water treatment and resource management, and the training is part of the China-Kenya co-operation. He said they they had been working with the Nairobi Water Company for seven years, and the training will improve the quality of water consumed in and around Nairobi

"After the training, we expect the water quality in Nairobi to improve, and we have a pact with the water company for more training," he said.

Nairobi Water Company Managing Director Phillip Gichuki welcomed the training, noting that it would address the issue of quality, efficiency and infrastructure. Gichuki noted that under the program, the use of chemicals to treat water by the company would reduce drastically.

"This program is meant to train our staff in terms of water treatment and efficiency, and we thank the Chinese government and the university for the Initiative," Gichuki said.

He noted that as water demand in the city continued to rise, with the current demand standing at 740,000 cubic meters per day against a supply of 525,000 cubic meters.

"Our infrastructure cannot accommodate more water due to its size, and hence the move to construct the treatment plant in 42 months," he said, adding that the project would be funded by the World Bank and French Development Agency. Enditem