The Sunday News
Nkosilathi Sibanda, Sunday News Correspondent
LOCAL councils have given a nod to the use of modern water management technologies, in order to enhance service delivery and alleviate shortages that have constrained hygiene standards in urban settlements.
The urban authorities are said to have endorsed the Standard Transfer Specification (STS) pre-paid water metres and Laison Pre-payment Information Management Systems Software manufactured by Hangzhou Laison Technology of China.
This comes at a time when sanitation has been made a compulsory habit in the wake of Covid-19.
Local companies are in the lead, spearheading the manufacturing of smart water metrers that experts say could be the panacea to problems faced by urban authorities’ in the management, supply and consumption of water.
Smart water metres are devices linked to a remote data logger that allows for the continuous monitoring of water consumption. But, the technology has been at the centre of debate with residents fearing that it would be costly.
However, a local firm that is on a drive to convince city fathers and town planners countrywide to adopt the use of smart meters, said smart water metres were more advantageous to the consumer.
Managing director at Taf Mining Spares and Hardware Mr Kenneth Mhlanga said so far there are councils that are pleased with the technology, although he was not at liberty to name them.
Taf Mining Spares and Hardware supplies and installs the metres after having entred into a partnership with Hangzhou Laison Technology.
“So far about four councils are happy with the offer. We encourage other authorities to follow suit. When councils start to use this technology, in a short space of time they will notice that their revenue collection will be smooth, at a rate of 98 percent. At the same time slowly recovering the old debts at no cost.”
He said smart water metres are ideal for communities that want to exercise the highest hygienic standards.
“With smart water metres, water leakages and shortages caused by absolute equipment will be a thing of the past. Since metres are monitored in a manufacturer’s remote control centre, leakages will be the thing of the past. We need to acknowledge that Covid-19 is here and we must have solutions through these smart metres.
Therefore, we are coming up with this campaign as an industry so that councils in particular, are able to provide quality service. Consumers deserve respect in the form of excellent service delivery systems,” he said.
