Smart water meters key to sustainable water delivery

LOCAL municipal authorities in all the country’s districts can derive a lot of revenue and also deliver potable water in a sustainable manner through the introduction of well monitored smart water meters, a water delivery expert has said.

Taf Mining Spares and Hardware managing director Mr Kenneth Mhlanga, said they were ready to assist rural and urban councils in implementing smart water metering, in a bid to ensure an undistuptive system that will be beneficial to consumer and the authorities.

The smart water metering system has been a bone of contention of late, with rate payers expressing mixed reactions to the proposal.

Mr Mhlanga said water metering was the way to go in order to maintain a beneficial arrangement that ensures clean and sustainable water delivery.

“As TAF Mining Spares and Hardware we are here to offer solutions on non-revenue water, a headache to all water authorities. Collecting water revenue in time is our business. We would want to work with all municipalities that are ready to implement the project.

“We are geared not only to support councils but Givernas a whole, so that we realise the Sustainable Development Goals of brining safe water to everyone. Ours is to make life superb for water authorities by providing prepaid water meters that makes collecting water revenue a stroll in the park,” said Mr Mhlanga.

He explained that over a period of time, revenue collected from water metering will go a long way in propping service delivery in developmental projects such as infrastructure and other social amenities.

He said councils will also be able to monitor water usage and make wise decisions in conserving the precious resource.

“After collecting back the water revenue in time as the first stage, then water authorities shall focus on monitoring and analysing the customer consumption. This data is crucial for better decision making during water production. With such close monitoring, our water authorities should be able to find any possible water leakages and temper situations in time.

“In our new world order where a client is a king, we would want to make water vending much more convenient. Our meters are equipped with mobile vending solutions. We are also ready to implement mobile applications and point of sale machines,” he said.

Mr Mhlanga further said:

“We are also in a position to offer gadgets that provide end-user provisions with a 20 digits meter recharge tokens either at vending points, appointed vendors through the POS system, Ecocash/One money, online banking services, then clients put into meter via the customer interface unit.”

Taf Mining and Hardware, according to Mr Mhlanga has partnered one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of technically-advanced utility meter products and systems, Hangzhou Laison Technology of China for the supply and installation of Smart Water Meters in the country.

“So far we have presented our products from Hangzhou Laison Technology to most water delivery companies in the country. We are glad that our Government is in full support of this noble idea,” said Mr Mhlanga.

Mr Mhlanga highlighted that there have worked out easy payment solutions that suit well with clients, as they will also allow the use of the local currency.

“Our bankers are ready to assist with forex to purchase the meters in China while local water companies and authorities can pay us using local currency.

“The facility is very noble as our bankers understand the reality of technology and moving forward with time,” he said.

In previous engagements with Zimpapers, Mr Mhlanga highlighted that there is a lot that both consumers and councils can benefit from by installing these smart water meters, in particular the improvement of the billing system. He said as soon as they install the meters, councils and water companies will realise eased cash flow while consumers are left satisfied with service provision.

Early January, the City of Bulawayo resolved to seek Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the supply, delivery, and installation of prepaid and smart water meters, replacing an earlier procurement plan for citywide implementation.

The city’s Water and Sanitation department reported in their 136 156 metered water connections, they faced challenges with accurate billing due to a lack of sufficient meter readers.

Follow on X -@mthabisi_mthire