The government has unveiled plans to implement new water and sewer tariffs for residents of Ruiru and Juja in Kiambu County.

The move announced by Water Service Regulatory Board CEO Richard Cheruiyot follows extensive consultative efforts between the government and the residents of the affected areas.

The residents have been given a one-month notice from when the new water tariff adjustments will come into effect for the next four financial years.

The new charges will impact various sectors differently with government institutions and industries being the hardly hit.

Under the new charges, learning institutions will pay Sh110 per unit of water, while residents in commercial and residential areas will face a charge of Sh104 per unit of water.

Additionally, government institutions and industries will be levied an amount of Sh130 per cubic meter which will range from 1 to 50 cubic meters.

The government is also seeking to collect more funds from bulk water sellers and water vending kiosks, which will pay Sh91 per cubic meter and Sh110 per cubic meter of water, respectively.

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The water agency has also outlined changes to sewerage charges. Consumers with active water connections will be billed 75 percent of their monthly water consumption for sewerage services.

On the other hand, those with disconnected water accounts wishing to utilize sewer services will be charged based on their average sewerage fees from the three months preceding disconnection.

Meanwhile, domestic consumers with no water connection but use sewerage services will have to part with Sh300 per month, with those in other categories, such as private water sources like boreholes staring at a cost of 75 percent of their water consumption for sewerage services.

Residents who will be seeking new water connection services will pay Sh2,500 while those with retail shops that consume an average of less than 10 cubic meters of water will pay Sh3,000.

Meanwhile, those operating retail shops with more than 10 cubic meters of consumption will pay Sh3,500, while schools and other institutions with more than 200 cubic meters of consumption will have to pay Sh20,000 to access connections.

Property developers working on minor construction sites with consumption exceeding 200 cubic meters will be charged Sh15,000, while major construction projects requiring over 300 cubic meters will incur a Sh50,000 connection fee.

Other charges are Sh30,000 for investors operating light industries with less than 200 cubic meters, and Sh50,000 for medium industries consuming between 200 to 300 cubic meters of water.

Those with heavy industries that require more than 300 cubic meters will pay Sh100,000 in connection fees.