ZIMBABWE’S capital may introduce a prepaid smart water system for some of its 3 million inhabitants to help assist in water conservation efforts.
By implementing a prepaid watering system, costs could be cut by 30 percent, Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni and town clerk Tendai Mahachi said on Monday.
“It also enables the city to manage water consumption and corresponding revenue,” the Harare City Council said. Reducing leak losses or “non-revenue water” and installing prepaid smart water meters were “a powerful water management tool that we need to pilot immediately”.
Funding to improve Harare’s water and sanitation includes a Export-Import Bank of China loan of $144 million (about R2bn), a Zimbabwe grant of $9.5m from the government, and the capital’s resources.
Harare and its surrounding towns require at least 800 million litres of water a day. Harare City Council also distributes water to the dormitory cities of Chitungwiza, with a population of about 1 million, and Norton.
The pilot project will be introduced in the central business district and northern suburbs. No dates were provided for when the system will begin. – Bloomberg