We grow fruits using recycled household wastewater
Mark Muchiri, who uses recycled household wastewater to irrigate fruits and the lawn in a homestead in Karen. The water is usually tested for safety before it is given the greenlight to be used. PHOTO | BRIAN OKINDA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Mark Muchiri, the manager at the homestead, says water is not a problem because they recycle what they use in the house and use it to grow the various crops.
Isaac Karani, a water sanitation and wastewater treatment engineer, says there are several innovative technologies that homes and institutions can use to turn their wastewater into clean water for use not just in houses, but also farms.
In the era of climate change and water scarcity, Karani says this is the system homes and institutions should embrace to keep their compounds clean.
Ann Macharia, an agronomist and agribusiness adviser, notes that recycling water and using it for farming is acceptable, however, it must be tested to ascertain its safety before use.
As one enters the compound in a fairly arid section of the Karen neighbourhood in Nairobi, its lush green vegetation comes as a surprise.
A walkway leads to the main house’s front door, and on the right side of the path sits a luxuriant grass turf dotted with dozens of different types of fruit trees.
