Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
THE City of Harare has installed 879 smart meters in Warren Park 1, as the rollout of the new water management system which includes prepaid supplies gathers momentum, amid growing demand from residents across the city.
In a statement on Monday, the city administration said the programme was already receiving positive feedback from residents, who believe the meters will promote fair billing and improve water distribution.
The example of the dramatic improvements in electricity supply and billing when Zesa switched to pre-paid meters have helped pushed the similar changeover in water.
“Residents have welcomed the development, noting that the smart meters ensure they only pay for water they actually consume, while also enabling more efficient and equitable distribution of water,” the statement said.
Harare City said it has numerous enquiries from residents seeking clarity on when the installations would be extended to their areas, a development the council said reflected growing public confidence in the initiative.
The smart water meters are part of Harare’s broader efforts to modernise its water infrastructure, curb losses through leaks and illegal connections and improve revenue collection to support service delivery.
Vague estimates become a thing of the past, with the changeover also supporting fixing the delivery infrastructure.
About 20 000 smart water meters have already been delivered by suppliers, with a further 40 000 expected to arrive in the near future to accelerate the project.
“The City remains committed to rolling out the smart water meters in a phased and orderly manner, guided by availability of equipment and technical capacity,” the statement said.
Once fully implemented, the smart metering system is expected to enhance transparency in billing, reduce disputes between residents and the municipality and contribute to improved water management in Harare.
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