Government installs pre-paid water metres to address bill disputes
DODOMA: THE GOVERNMENT has expressed its commitment to installing prepaid water metres to address complaints related to bill inflation and to enhance revenue collection in urban water and sewerage authorities as well as rural water supply and sanitation agencies.
Deputy Minister for Water, Engineer Kundo Mathew informed the National Assembly yesterday that by June, this year, a total of 14,914 prepaid water metres had been installed, with efforts ongoing to extend the initiative to more customers.
Eng Mathew made these re marks in response to a question from Ms Doroth Kilave, who inquired about the government’s strategy for implementing pre-paid water metres directives to allow citizens to pay water bills based on their usage.
In his response, Eng Mathew detailed that the ministry has been actively installing prepaid metres, with 14,914 metres installed as of June, this year
These metres were distributed among urban water and sanitation authorities, including RUWASA, with 11,861 metres installed in regional authorities.
“About 325 metres were installed in national project authorities, 692 in district water authorities and 50 in small town authorities,” he explained.
In rural areas, 1,986 metres were installed in Community Based Water Supply Organisations (CBWSOs).
“The government is currently finalising the preparation of a concept note, strategic plan and billing system to operate pre-paid metres by July this year,” he said.
He further emphasised that the government continues to supervise and support the water and sanitation authorities, along with RUWASA, to accelerate the installation of prepaid metres, enabling citizens to pay water bills based on their usage.
Once installed, prepaid metres are expected to address several challenges, including water losses, inflated bills, unpaid water bills and complaints from citizens about the lack of involvement in the metre reading process.
When presenting the ministry’s 2024/25 budget, Minister for Water Jumaa Aweso highlighted that the installation of prepaid metres is a top priority for the upcoming financial year.
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He noted that prepaid metres will enhance water use efficiency, prevent leakages that result in significant losses, and improve access to water services based on user’s financial capacities.
“This is a directive from President Samia Suluhu Hassan; therefore, it is non-negotiable,” he stated.
Additionally, he mentioned that prepaid metres would also help water utilities optimize their human resources.
