Nairobi County residents will soon face an increase in water prices after Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) applied to the regulator to raise tariffs citing rising costs in delivering water to residents.

The increase, the company said in a notice on Thursday, will help in servicing loans owed by the utility firm and will assist in improving infrastructure.

The water bill in the city is set to rise up to 40 percent if the regulator agrees to a new tariff review.

The Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) said Nairobi Water said to be seeking the regulator’s approval to increase water tariffs by between 20.44 percent and 39.57 percent which will be dependent on monthly consumption levels.

This means, households that consume about 15,000 litres of water per month will pay nearly Ksh.1,685 up from the current Ksh.1,241.

The adjustment will force city residents to dig deeper into their pockets at a time when the cost of living continues to rise due to heavy taxation and supply shortages amid high demand.

Should the tariffs be approved, some of the conditions attached to the review by WASREB is for Nairobi Water to increase water coverage to 85 per cent of the city within three years from the current 82 percent 

NCWSC is also set to water quality to 100 percent from 91 percent, and lower the ratio of water it supplies without deriving revenue from it to 41 percent from 46 percent.