First 9,600 high-tech water meters to be delivered by May

The first 9,600 solid state water meters being supplied to the government by Diehl Metering are expected to be delivered within another two months, after which the National Water Commission (NWC) will begin installation.

A total of 450,000 meters are to be provided by the German company, under a US$43.9-million contract awarded last year to replace mechanical water meters with more efficient, high-tech electronic devices.

The exercise, which is to be undertaken by the NWC over a five-year period, will result in greater accuracy in the measurement of water con-sumption in each household.

With the implementation of the smart water infrastructure technology, it is expected that most customers will see an increase in their bills due to more accurate readings.

check regularly

As a result, president of the NWC, Mark Barnett, is urging householders to closely monitor their consumption habits and check regularly for leaks.

"We tend to ignore every drip ... until it starts to run. We encourage you to (inspect) your external plumbing around your premises," he said, pointing out that toilets are the greatest point of leakage and waste in any single home.

Barnett also suggested that persons consider purchasing water-saving devices if necessary, to ensure that they have greater control of their water consumption practices.

At the contract signing held last December, the NWC president said the installation of the new meters is a step forward in improving the customer experience in doing business with the NWC.

"Improved use of technology in our utility is critical ... the water sector right across the world ... is usually the last to accept new technologies and so for us, we want to demonstrate our commitment to change that mindset," he said.

Pointing out that 75 to 80 per cent of customer complaints are normally related to billing, Barnett noted that the installation of the new technology would signi-ficantly reduce this trend, given its many capabilities.

He noted that the electronic meters will enable consumers to track their water consumption on a daily basis; detect leaks on their property; know what the flow rate is and how much water is used at certain times; and receive alarms if there are any changes in regular consumption.