HARARE City Council, through its implementing partners Halcraw Electrical, has started installing prepaid water meters, with resident in Belvedere, Westlea, Mabelreign and Warren Park getting their meters this year.
The installations are being done in phases.
They started installing in Harare’s central business district at Birdcage Walk Flats and Calder Gardens last year and have been doing so much to the delight of many residents
Elvis Mukawa a resident in Warren Park D said he was happy that he had received a prepaid meter adding that the prepaid system will promote responsible water use, reduce losses and ensure residents only pay for what they consume.
“Am delighted by the fact that as resident we will only get water that we paid for, which means there are no fears of being over charged,” he said.
Sharon Mhlanga from Westlea said: “We are happy with the prepaid water meters as they will make residents responsible at the same time people will receive what that they would have paid for thus reducing estimates which most residents did not agree with.”
Harare City said it will rehabilitate Morton Jaffray Water Works to increase its capacity. This will result in water coming out in places that haven’t received water in years.
Harare presently loses an estimated 60 percent of treated water before it reaches consumers, a staggering figure that translates to more than US$3 million in monthly losses.
Non-revenue water, the one that is produced but lost through leaks, faulty meters or theft, has crippled the city’s finances, undermined service delivery and forced some residents to rely on unsafe alternative sources.
Linda Rupango from Mabelreign said she welcomed the development.
“The previous billing system negatively affected both paying and non-paying residents and I hope that prepaid meters would ensure consistent water supply and fairness,” he said.
