BY DAVID KISANGA
6th March 2013
The Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Company (Dawasco) has revealed its plan to introduce prepaid meters for customers in a move to improve the facility’s revenue collection, water accessibility and to curb theft.
The device will require consumers to pay for water prior to getting the service by purchasing a prepaid card or a token.
Consumers can then draw water by inserting the prepaid card or token into the meter.
Speaking to The Guardian in an interview yesterday, Dawasco Public Relations Manager Irene Makene established that the pilot project is scheduled to start in April exclusively to a few areas with reliable water supply in Dar es Salaam.
“It is highly recommended that Dawasco apply such a system as it will make it easier to curb water theft and avoid unpaid water bills, something that will improve the company’s revenue collection,” she said.
“It is highly recommended that Dawasco apply such a system as it will make it easier to curb water theft and avoid unpaid water bills, something that will improve the company’s revenue collection,” she said.
Makene noted that the introduction of the system will also help curb the increasing number of unscrupulous dealers as well as enable the company improve efficiency in billing, thus cutting expenses associated with reading meters and data processing.
She further explained that once water service is delivered, the balance will be adjusted whereas the new balance will be displayed and water service will automatically be terminated if the balance is due until the consumer buys another token.
Asked on how the pre-paid meters will be installed; Makene said, a pilot project will be carried out in some areas with constant water supply so as to get clear results before taking the service to other areas of the city.
She said that the firm has already ordered some of these meters which will be used in a pilot study.
We are going to do an environment scanning to determine where to install these meters so as to see how practical they can be.
“This system will be spread across Dar es Salaam and the Coast region; that is if it turns out to be practical and if it is well responded to,” she said.
Citing the benefits of the system, Makene noted that it will guarantee cost recovery since water consumption will be in prepaid mode and there will be substantial cost savings and recovery of capital expenditure especially in administrative expenses such as bills collection.
She also added that the system will reduce unnecessary water consumption as well as enabling quick detection of water theft or leaks.
She further said that the system will also reduce customers’ queries that usually take a lot of time to resolve, as the device will enables consumers monitor their own water consumption as the meter will display the balance of the token hence the consumer will be alerted on how much token they have left.
When asked on how reliable will the system be to consumers in areas with water shortages or water rationing; Makene insinuated that the system is meant for areas with constant water availability.
She moreover said that the next phase of this project will focus on these areas by seeing how they can be connected to the system.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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