The Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS) has officially restored full water supply from the Kesses Water Treatment Plant, ending nearly a week of anxiety after a Congo-bound lorry spilled industrial chemicals into the River Kipkarren-Bindura-Kesses.
In a detailed update on Tuesday, November 25, the utility assured residents that the water is now completely safe for consumption, following an intensive multi-agency investigation and round-the-clock testing.
ELDOWAS confirmed that an inter-agency team comprising NEMA, the Uasin Gishu County Department of Water, Environment, Energy, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, public health authorities, and emergency units, carried out a full inspection of the river system, Kesses Dam inflow, and surrounding ecosystems.
“Water supply from the Kesses Water Treatment Plant has officially been restored following completion of the multi-agency assessment of the chemical spillage incident,” ELDOWAS announced.
Tests conducted at the river entry point, dam storage areas, treatment outflow, and along the distribution network all met Kenya’s water safety standards.
According to the technical teams, the substance spilled into the river does not pose a threat to public health at its current concentration levels. Extensive tests confirmed zero contamination across all stages of treatment and distribution.
“The spilled substance does not pose a risk to public health at the current concentration levels. All water quality tests have met the safety standards for potable water,” the company stated.
With the system cleared, ELDOWAS has fully resumed operations at the Kesses Water Treatment Plant.
The company reassured Eldoret residents that water safety remains its top priority, emphasizing that its advanced treatment processes can eliminate potential impurities.
“We reassure the public that water supplied through the ELDOWAS system is safe. Our teams will continue enhanced water quality monitoring as an added precaution,” the statement concluded.
The incident began on Thursday, November 20, when a lorry carrying a white industrial chemical allegedly destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo overturned in Matharu, Tarakwa Ward, spilling part of its contents into the river system that feeds Kesses Dam.
Witnesses reported seeing the substance flow downstream, prompting ELDOWAS to immediately shut down the Kesses Water Treatment Plant as a precaution.
“This river forms a critical part of the upstream catchment that flows directly into Kesses Dam,” the earlier alert had stated.
The shutdown triggered water shortages in parts of Eldoret as experts rushed to determine the chemical’s nature and potential health risks.
With the multi-agency investigation now complete and contamination ruled out, ELDOWAS says normal water supply has resumed and residents can confidently use tap water for drinking, cooking, and domestic purposes.
The company will maintain heightened surveillance in the coming days to guarantee sustained safety.
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