Cost–benefit analysis of water conservation systems installed in household buildings in Nairobi County

ABSTRACT

Cost–benefit analysis of installed water conservation systems (piped water storage, water recycling, and rainwater harvesting) is important in management of water resources in urban areas. This study analysed water conservation systems installed in households in Nairobi County using 200 households’ questionnaires. Benefit–cost ratio analysis indicated that the piped water storage system and rainwater harvesting system were viable with benefits at 2.80 and 2.03, respectively, while the water recycling system was not viable at 0.80. This study recommends installation of piped water storage and rainwater harvesting systems for quality, quantity, and reliable water to be availed in households within viable economic costs.

KEYWORDS:

• Cost-benefit analysis
• Nairobi
• water conservation

Acknowledgments

The author would like to express his appreciation to all the researchers who participated in this research and consultants who funded it through the Pharos Architects' Ltd lead, Water Conservation Fellowship.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Pharos Architects Ltd lead: [Water Conservation Fellowship].

Notes on contributors

James Shikuku

James Shikuku is a Tutorial Fellow in the Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Building Sciences at JKUAT. He holds a Master Degree of Sustainable Urban Development from Centre for Urban Studies and has an honuors degree in Architecture, JKUAT. He is a director partner at Tetra Designs LTD, a registered practising Architect under BORAQS and a Corporate Member of Architectural Association of Kenya. He has varied experience in urban planning and design research in environmental and built environment studies. He lectures in theory and design studio classes and supervises research thesis and research projects at the undergraduate level in Architecture.

Gerryshom Munala

Prof Gerryshom Munala is an Associate Professor of architecture and environmental planning at the Centre for Urban Studies, JKUAT. He is a Corporate Member (AAK) and a registered practising Architect (BORAQs), Lead Environmental Impact Assessor and Auditor (NEMA) as well as a member of European Water Resource Association (EWRA). Convenor, International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee 224/ Working Group 8 on “Onsite Waste Water Management Using Low Technologies”. Prof Munala has wide experience as a practising architect, having been involved in a number of institutional infrastructural projects. He has taught in the university since 2002 rising through the ranks to associate professor position. He has published widely and presented several papers both at local and international level. He has supervised several graduate and post-graduate students.

Mugwima Njuguna

Dr Mugwima Bernard Njuguna is a senior a lecturer in the Centre for Urban Studies, JKUAT. He earned his PhD in the department of Architecture, JKUAT in July 2011. He also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students in the departments of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Additionally, he has continuously and extensively researched on conservation of historic areas and buildings right from his undergraduate level. He is also the holder of Certificate in Conservation and Management of Historic Buildings from Lund University, Sweden (2008). Dr Mugwima earned his Master degree from the University of Nairobi (MA Planning) in 2005; and his BArch in 2000 from JKUAT. He is a registered Architect, is a Corporate Member of Architectural Association of Kenya, and a graduate member of the Town Planning Chapter of the same association. Dr Mugwima is a member of ICOMOS, is also an Affiliate of Forum UNESCO-University and Heritage Network (FUUH), and a Signatory to the ICOMOS INTABAU Venice Declaration. He is also a member of Nature Kenya and the Kenya Book Foundation. Dr Mugwima has published several papers; and supported the publication of the seminal book, The Venice Charter Revisited, Modernism, Conservation and Tradition in the 21st Century-2008). He has also attended various conferences both locally and abroad as a presenter. Dr. Mugwima is a practicing architect. Additionally, he is a founder member of Heritage Conservation and Human Rights, a research group domiciled at the University of Nairobi.

Teckla Muhoro

Dr Teckla Muhoro is a Lecturer in the Department of Construction Management, School of Architecture and Building Sciences at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). She has lectured in theory and design studio classes and supervised research at the undergraduate level. She holds a BArch (USA); MArch (Belgium) and Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Design. She is a lecturer of the Centre for Urban Studies. She has worked in public and private sector on issues of urban development, human settlements, best practices and partnership building. She has an academic interest in architectural heritage, urban morphology and development.

Andrew Gremley

Andrew Gremley is a director Partner in Pharos Architect Kenya LTD which provide architectural and engineering services for building projects in East Africa region. He is a Green Star Accredited member and a registered architect under BORAQS. He is a member of Architectural Association of Kenya and has been practising in East Africa since 1993.

Victor Nyakundi

Victor Nyakundi is the Lead Partner, Sketch Scope Architects and a lecturer at JKUAT-Department of Architecture, a leading Architecture School in Kenya. He holds a Master of Sustainable Urban Development from the Centre for Urban Studies, and a First Class Honors in Architecture, JKUAT. Recent research includes Architecture for the Senses-Visually Impaired and papers in renowned journals in water quality, Quasi-Delegated Water Management, water Conservation, cost-benefit analysis in water management.

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali is a holder of Bachelor of Architecture degree and Masters of Sustainable Urban Development (MSUD) from JKUAT. He is a tutorial fellow at the department of architecture in Jomo Kenyatta university of Agriculture and Technology. He teaches theory units together with design classes and also supervises final year undergraduate students with their project thesis and design project. He is a graduate Architect and a member of the Architectural Association of Kenya.