The water levels in Ndakaini Dam, Murang’a county have remained low even as heavy rains continue to hit the country in the last two months.

According to Athi Water Services Board acting CEO Michael Thuita, the water levels at Ndadakaini currently is at about 30 percent (23 billion litres).

Thuita refuted the allegations that the falling water levels at Ndakaini are due to the on-going construction of the northern collector tunnel saying the issue is because the rains are more on the low lands than in the Aberdare range, the catchment area of Ndakaini dam.

“The rain in Nairobi is not in Aberdares hence little run off. All the rivers from Aberdares have not improved, he said.

Ndakaini dam get its water from three main rivers: Githika, Thika and Kayuyu that are fed by tributaries streaming-in from the Aberdare ranges.

It has a storage of 70,000,000m3 (70 billion litres) at full capacity. The dam is 2,041 meters above sea level and has a depth average of 65m.

NDAKAINI WATER LEVELS DROP

The water levels at Ndakaini dropped to a historic low of below 25% in April last year, forcing Nairobi residents to contend with water rationing to date.

Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) Managing Director Philip Gichuki said the situation had been occasioned by the drying up of rivers that feed the dam due to a prolonged drought.

THE NORTHERN COLLECTOR TUNNEL

The construction of The Northern Collector Tunnel (NCT) in Murang’a, which the government says will improve water services in Nairobi, Kiambu and Muranga Counties, has been shrouded by controversy over its environmental and social impact.

The 11.3 kilometre-long northern collector tunnel (NCT) will divert water to Ndakaini dam to improve supply to Nairobi and its environs.

TUNNEL OF DEATH?

Raila Odinga had warned that project could turn Murang’a into a desert.

“Seven rivers are targeted. All of them feed the River Tana, which is the source of livelihood for communities in Ukambani, Murang’a, Garissa, Tana River and north Mathioya,” Odinga said.

In February last year World Bank sent a team to probe the impacts of the construction of the northern collector tunnel following complaints from Murang’a residents.