The Mombasa Water and Sanitation Company, in partnership with the county government, has launched smart meters in Changamwe to enhance water distribution.
According to Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, these smart meters automatically lock to prevent water flow into homes once the payment grace period expires. They unlock again once the bill is settled.
Speaking at the National Housing Corporation estate in Changamwe on Saturday, Nassir noted, “This is just the beginning; we plan to expand this initiative throughout Mombasa.”
Mowasco’s managing director, Abdirahim Farah, explained that utilizing technology for water measurement will significantly reduce non-revenue water, which has resulted in substantial financial losses for the company. This initiative aligns with the governor’s vision for Mombasa as a smart city.
The pilot phase of the smart meter project has been initiated at the National Housing Corporation estate in Changamwe, where 400 meters have been installed. “We aim to reach approximately 1,200 consumers and expect a 35 percent increase in revenue within two months,” Farah stated. “This will greatly improve our liquidity and help us tackle other challenges.”
Mombasa currently faces a water shortage, with a daily demand of 200,000 cubic meters against a supply of only 40,000 cubic meters. The company loses about half of this supply to theft and leaks.
“This initiative is a critical step in addressing commercial losses and ensuring all our meters function effectively,” Farah added.
Plans are also underway to revive around 600 dormant accounts. Following the National Housing Corporation, the next pilot phase will be implemented at Miritini estate. “We currently have about 500 active accounts, but we hope to increase this by 600 to 700 with this initiative,” Farah said.
He highlighted that nearly half of the supplied water is lost due to illegal connections and bypasses.
Mowasco’s ICT head, Edwin Mwale, stated that in addition to reducing non-revenue water, the smart meters will enhance billing efficiency and accuracy. “We aim to precisely measure the water lost to theft and leaks,” he explained.
With this data, Mwale assured that systems would be established to ensure adequate water supply for Mombasa residents. Many old meters are unreliable and do not accurately reflect household water usage.
Mowasco’s monitoring and evaluation officer, Emmanuel Cherop, noted that the smart meters would allow for zoning to track water consumption in specific areas for balanced distribution. “Previously, we lost water because we couldn’t account for how much was used. If we can’t measure it, we can’t manage it,” he said.
The smart meters are integrated with a Geographic Information System, allowing Mowasco to identify leakages and instances of water theft.
Cherop indicated that a 20 percent reduction in non-revenue water could result in a nearly 35 percent increase in revenue.
Governor Nassir stated that ultimately all 28,000 meters in the county will be replaced, with a goal of increasing the number to 40,000 households using smart meters within the next year.
He emphasized that Mombasa relies on water from Kilifi, Kwale, and Taita Taveta counties, and previous attempts to desalinate seawater have not been successful. “We are seeking investors to revisit that option,” he said.
The smart meters are also intended to deter thieves who sell county water to residents at inflated prices.
