The Mombasa Water and Sanitation Company (Mowasco) and the county government have launched smart meters in Changamwe to enhance water distribution. According to Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, these smart meters automatically lock to stop water flow into homes once the grace period for bill payment expires and unlock when the bill is paid.
Speaking at the National Housing Corporation estate in Changamwe, Nassir stated, “We have just started. We will then expand it to the whole of Mombasa.” Mowasco’s managing director, Abdirahim Farah, emphasized that using technology to measure and account for water will help reduce non-revenue water losses, which have cost the company millions. He noted this initiative aligns with the governor’s vision of transforming Mombasa into a smart city.
The pilot phase of the smart meter project was initiated in Mombasa West at the National Housing Corporation estate, where 400 meters were installed. Farah mentioned, “We are targeting around 1,200 consumers. Through this, we expect to increase our revenue by 35 percent in less than two months. That will greatly improve our liquidity and enable us to address other challenges.”
Mombasa currently faces a water shortage, with a demand of 200,000 cubic meters daily against a supply of only 40,000 cubic meters. The company reportedly loses about half of its supply due to theft and leakages. “This is one way we are going to tackle commercial losses and ensure all our meters are functional,” Farah added.
Plans are underway to revive approximately 600 dormant accounts, with the next pilot phase set for Miritini estate. “Currently, we have around 500 active accounts, but with this initiative, we hope to increase that number by 600 or 700 in this area,” Farah said, highlighting the challenge of illegal connections and bypasses that account for nearly half of the water supplied.
Mowasco’s head of ICT, Edwin Mwale, stated that the smart meters will not only reduce non-revenue water but also enhance billing efficiency and accuracy. “We want to use the smart meters to measure the exact amount of water lost through theft and leakages,” he explained. Once they have this data, Mwale emphasized that systems will be implemented to ensure sufficient water supply for Mombasa residents.
Many old meters often reverse, failing to accurately read household water usage. Mowasco’s monitoring and evaluation officer, Emmanuel Cherop, noted that the smart meters will allow for zoning, enabling the company to identify water consumption in different areas for fair distribution. “In most cases, we have been losing water because we do not know how much we can account for. What we cannot account for, we cannot measure,” Cherop said.
The smart meters are integrated with a Geographical Information System, which helps track water flow and usage. This technology will allow Mowasco to pinpoint where leaks or thefts occur. Cherop mentioned that a 20 percent reduction in non-revenue water could lead to an almost 35 percent increase in revenue.
Governor Nassir announced plans to eventually replace all 28,000 meters in the county. “The goal is to increase that number to 40,000 households using smart meters within the next year,” he said. He highlighted that Mombasa relies on water from Kilifi, Kwale, and Taita Taveta counties, noting that previous attempts to desalinate Indian Ocean water have not been successful.
“We are once again seeking investors for this initiative,” he added. The smart meters are also intended to deter thieves who illegally sell county water to residents at inflated prices.
