Guide · Water and sewer · Updated 2026-10-22

Connecting a building to the sewer in Nairobi

A building joins the public sewer through a drain from the building to a sewer line. Nairobi Water — Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company — approves the drain’s drawing, the work is inspected, and Nairobi Water makes the connection. On Nairobi Maps the Trunk sewer layer shows where the trunk sewers run, so you can see how far a plot is from one before anything is designed.

See the plot on the map Nairobi Water: how to apply

What Nairobi Water asks for

A drawing of the proposed drain — its plan, the ground levels and the invert levels — approved and stamped by Nairobi Water before you apply.
Your water account, or evidence of where the property’s water comes from.
On a borehole: the Water Resources Authority’s approvals and Nairobi Water’s letter of no objection.
The property’s documents, as for a water connection.

How the connection is made

Check the plot and the sewer. Find the plot on the map and how far the nearest trunk sewer runs (the Trunk sewer layer), and what lies between: roads, rivers, other plots.
Have the drain designed. A drawing of the proposed drain shows its plan, the ground levels and the invert levels — the level of the bottom of the pipe — all the way to the sewer.
Get the drawing approved. Nairobi Water approves the drawing and stamps it with its stamp. No application is allowed before that.
Apply on the portal. Apply on Nairobi Water’s portal with the stamped drawing, and your water account or evidence of where the property’s water comes from.
Build the drain inside the plot. The new drain is finished up to the plot boundary and approved by the Building/Sewerage Inspector.
Open the ground to the sewer. Dig to the public sewer and expose it for the connection. Work in a public road needs permission to open the road before it starts.
Nairobi Water connects it. Only Nairobi Water makes connections to the public sewer.

The pipes

Where the drain runs	What Nairobi Water asks for
Under a road, or by micro-tunnelling	Concrete or non-corrosive metal pipe.
Along a road reserve	uPVC pipe may be used.
Across a river or a valley	Non-corrosive metal pipe is recommended.

The new sewer line then becomes Nairobi Water’s, and neighbouring plots may connect to it. The connection materials and charges are on Nairobi Water’s portal.

Check the plot and the route first

Check	Where	Why it matters
The plot and its number	Search the map by LR, block or FR number	The application names the property, and its title, lease or rates demand note is for that parcel.
How close the trunk sewer runs	The Trunk sewer layer	A sewer connection is a drain from the building to the public sewer, and its drawing must show the levels along the way.
Roads on the way	The roads layer on the map	Work in a public road needs permission to open it before work starts, and a pipe under a road needs concrete or non-corrosive metal.
Rivers on the way	The rivers layers on the map	A pipe across a river or a valley should be non-corrosive metal, and work beside a river can need consent from the Water Resources Authority and NEMA.
Your right to the property	An official search on Ardhisasa	Nairobi Water asks for a title deed, a lease or tenancy agreement, or a rates demand note from Nairobi City County.
If no public sewer can be reached	NEMA’s effluent discharge licence	Wastewater from a premises’ work discharged anywhere but a public sewer needs NEMA’s licence.

On the map: the water layers

Layer	What it shows	Who sees it
City Water Reticulation	Nairobi Water’s water mains: the pipes in the streets that properties are connected to.	Add-on layer
Trunk sewer	The trunk sewers: the large public sewer lines that building drains connect to.	Add-on layer
Water Reservoirs	Nairobi Water’s service reservoirs, tanks and pump stations.	Silver and above

City Water Reticulation and Trunk sewer are add-on layers: each is bought once, on any plan, and kept — see plans and pricing. The Water Reservoirs layer comes with Silver and above.

Questions

How do I connect to the sewer in Nairobi?

Have the drain from the building to the public sewer designed, and its drawing approved and stamped by Nairobi Water. Apply on Nairobi Water’s portal, build the drain inside the plot for the Building/Sewerage Inspector to approve, open the ground to the sewer, and Nairobi Water makes the connection.

What is an invert level?

The level of the inside bottom of a pipe. A drain’s drawing gives the ground level and the invert level along its route, so it can be seen that the wastewater runs downhill all the way to the sewer.

Can I connect to the public sewer myself?

No. By Nairobi Water’s instructions, the company makes every connection to the public sewer. You build the drain inside the plot and open the ground to the sewer; Nairobi Water connects it.

How do I find the nearest sewer to my plot?

On Nairobi Maps, the Trunk sewer layer shows where the trunk sewers run. Find the plot by its number and switch the layer on.

I use a borehole. Can I have a sewer account?

Yes. Attach the Water Resources Authority’s approvals for the borehole and Nairobi Water’s letter of no objection.

Is Nairobi Maps part of Nairobi Water?

No. Nairobi Maps is an independent map of Nairobi’s land and the services around it, for checking a plot before you apply. Nairobi Water — Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company — decides every connection.

Nairobi Maps is not part of Nairobi Water. This guide explains the usual route from Nairobi Water’s published instructions; requirements, fees and supply days change, so confirm them with Nairobi Water.