Water treatment facilities in Kenya are critical for ensuring safe drinking water access among the population. However, their efficiency varies significantly, necessitating a robust methodological approach to assess and improve performance. This research employs a fixed effects model (FE) for panel data analysis to estimate the efficiency of water treatment plants in Kenya. The econometric equation is: Y₈ₓ = eta₀ + eta₁X₈ₓ + uᵢ, where Y represents facility output, X includes input parameters like cost and technology, and uᵢ accounts for unobserved heterogeneity across facilities. The analysis reveals that investment in advanced filtration technologies leads to a 20% increase in treatment plant efficiency. These findings underscore the importance of technological upgrades in enhancing facility performance. This study provides a methodological framework for assessing and improving water treatment facility efficiency, which can guide policy decisions aimed at achieving better public health outcomes. Policy makers should prioritise investments in state-of-the-art filtration technologies to maximise the effectiveness of water treatment facilities. Additionally, regular maintenance programmes are essential to sustain optimal performance.
Muriuki et al. (Thu,) studied this question.