Green Hills, Blue Cities

• Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA), responsible for the sustainable management of water resources. • Catchment Area Advisory Committees, advises WRMA on conservation, use and allocation of water resources in their catchments. • Water Resources Users Association, provides a forum for conflict resolution and cooperative management of water resources in designated catchment areas. • Water Services Regulatory Board, responsible for the regulation of water and sewerage services. • Water Service Boards, responsible for the efficient and economic provision of water and sewerage services in their areas of jurisdiction. • Water Service Providers, contracted by Water Service Boards to provide quality water and sewerage services. • Water Services Trust Fund, assists in financing the provision of water services to areas without capacity to develop adequate water services. • Water Appeal Board, provides a mechanism for dispute resolution. Box 1: Key institutions created as a result of the Water Act The conservation of the Aberdare range ecosystem is crucial if Nairobi is to continue making significant contributions to the national economy. A recent study by Mungai and others (2011) found that there has been a significant reduction of environmental degradation in the Aberdare Conservation Area. This is evidenced by the increase in indigenous forest cover from 62 000 ha in 2000 to 131 000 ha in 2010 following the fencing off of this water catchment area through a private- public partnership initiative. To ensure continued supply of water, electricity and other goods and services to Nairobi from the Aberdare range, a policy framework and clear management system that incorporate the key stakeholders need to be put in place. At the same time, poverty reduction interventions are required in the forest margin landscapes to reduce pressure on the ecosystem from communities living adjacent to the forests (Mungai and others 2011). important for the regulation of river flows, as well as reducing soil erosion and sedimentation which, if not checked, would affect the water quality and increase the cost of water treatment.

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