Mabati Rolling Mills commissions water harvesting project at Westlands Primary School
- New Rain water harvesting system from MRM will significantly reduce customers reliance on metered and purchased water
- The launch of the system comes at an opportune time when schools are required to supply adequate water for handwashing as a measure to curb the spread of Covid 19
Mabati Rolling Mills (MRM), a Member of Safal Group, today commissioned a rainwater harvesting system at Wetlands Primary School in Nairobi. The water-harvesting system was installed using MRM’s RAINGAIN® products, which are specially designed to hygienically and safely maximize water harvesting from roofs for homes and institutions.
Westlands Primary is one of oldest and most populous schools in the county with over 1,400 pupils and in excess of 50 teachers and non-teaching staff. This new installation will reduce the school’s reliance on metered water and reduce its consumption by as much as 50%, saving the school from the perennial problems of unreliable and costly water supply.
Speaking at the school in Westlands, MRM CEO Andrew Heycott said the company has developed a rainwater harvesting system, which is affordable for both residential and institutional use.
“MRM has over the years continually innovated and pioneered new products and solutions to become the markets ultimate building partner; thereby creating a hub where consumers can get nearly all building solutions under one roof. With this system, homes and institutions can safely and hygienically harvest rainwater and store it for their daily use,” he said.
MRM is actively driving an awareness campaign to show the importance of harvesting rainwater safely using RAINGAIN® products as key elements in the roofing solutions for homes and institutions. MRM’s RAINGAIN® rainwater harvesting system is made from their Aluzinc Coated Pre-Painted Steel and has a number of advantages. It lasts longer than conventional rainwater harvesting systems and is easy to maintain. The system is less susceptible to areas with high temperature fluctuations and does not crack due to exposure to UV and sunshine. MRM’s Raingain system is available in three colours, Tile Red, Brilliant White and Charcoal Grey and can be custom produced in other colours for large-scale residential or institutional projects.
According to the recent media reports, Kenya’s rainwater harvesting potential is over 350 billion cubic meters and if well harvested and properly managed is enough to supply a population of over 233 million people, five times Kenya’s current population.
“As we head to the short rains season, let us take advantage of the abundance of rainwater in Kenya. We encourage everyone present today to consider our RAINGAIN® system as an essential element for collection and storage of water for sustainable buildings,” noted Heycott.
The Westlands Primary School project is aligned with MRM’s Core Values of Care for the Communities and Care for the Environment. It is part of the company’s ongoing support for institutions during the Covid 19 pandemic and is aimed at improving access to clean water in line with health guidelines to help contain the pandemic. Last year MRM constructed a 104-bed capacity Covid 19 Isolation Centre valued at Kshs. 25 million in Tigoni to cater for Covid patients in Kiambu County and its environs.
While acknowledging MRM’s support the School Head Teacher, Mr. Fredrick Otieno said, “before the intervention by MRM, the school was incurring high water bills but with the RAINGAIN® Water harvesting System, we shall cut down cost of water by up to 50%” The Head Teacher said he looks forward to having all other roofs fitted with the RAINGAIN® Water harvesting System.
The donation comes at a time when schools are required to enhance their access to clean water in line with health guidelines to contain the COVID19 pandemic. Therefore, the environmentally friendly solution will go a long way in enhancing the supply of clean water and saving the School’s critical resources.