Water Service Providers across the country are seeking to embrace the use of advanced metering infrastructure in a direct attempt to address the huge losses that they incur.
Statistics from the Ministry of Water indicate that the providers jointly have a 45 per cent Non-Revenue Water (NRW), which translates to about Ksh10.6 billion loss annually.
Water Chief Administrative Secretary Andrew Tuimur says the water that is lost in the county in a year is enough to serve Nairobi residents for at least six months.
And in an attempt to find a solution to the high NRW, the service providers say they are mulling the option of installing advanced meters, to replace the current ones – which they believe are contributing to the water loss.
“NRW is a challenge we’re facing as water service providers. We have decided to reduce this and we need to bring all stakeholders together,” said CPA Michael Mang’eli, the chairman of the Water Services Providers Association (WASPA).
Mang’eli who is also the Mavoko Water and Sanitation Company Managing Director spoke on the sidelines of the ongoing 6th WASPA Water Loss Management Conference in Eldoret.
He pointed out that water service providers had resolved to embrace modern technology as a way of enhancing revenue, as well as ensuring everybody gets water.
“We want to go a notch higher and ensure meters are read on mobile phones,” said the WASPA chairman.
A number of water service providers, including the Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (Eldowas) have been doing pilots with the use of smart meters that have registered impressive results.
WASPA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Ambugo says they have already reviewed their metering guidelines in a move that seeks to phase out low-quality meters.
“We’re going higher in terms of specs so that as soon as a meter smells water, it registered unlike the current meters where if the pressure is low, water that passes through is not captured,” Ambuko said.
The pilot use of smart meters by Eldowas in the Kipkorgot area had registered only 5 per cent of Non-Revenue Water.
“It can even be 2 per cent with a combination of good materials and this is what we want the other utilities to learn from the leading practices so that it can be replicated and bring efficiency in the country,” said the WASP CEO.
