Kiang’ombe village residents in Thika West are up in arms against the area water service provider, Thika Water and Sewerage Company (THIWASCO) over salty water in their taps.
The locals accuse the water firm of mixing their clean water with water water from a borehole that was drilled by the government through the Athi Water Works Development Agency in the area.
Led by their Chairperson Milkah Wangui, the locals said that life has become unbearable in the village due to the water that is highly concentrated in fluoride.
They said that they have been forced to buy clean water elsewhere for cooking since the salty water has been spoiling their food.
They also decried that they have started contracting water related ailments noting that children in almost every household in the village have suffered diarrhea.
Others said that their teeth have started turning brown due to the high fluoride levels in the water.
They called on THIWASCO to intervene and disconnect the water from the borehole saying that they are contented with the clean water provided by the firm.
THIWASCO Managing Director Eng Moses Kinya who spoke on phone said that the connection was aimed at increasing water supply in the area due to the high population noting that the firm’s production and distribution has been overstretched.
He however noted that experts were dispatched to the village to examine the fluoride levels of the borehole water noting that if the levels are high the borehole will be shut.