The Kakamega County Water and Sanitation Company (KACWASCO) is piloting a new program to install smart water meters in a bid to increase revenue.
The project expected to cost Ksh190.4 million will see the current meters replaced with smart devices capable of relaying data to the company's billing system.
According to the company, the meters will transmit accurate figures on the water consumed by a customer when billing the client at the end of the month.
Before a planned full rollout, 100 smart meters will be installed in various households for three months enabling the water firm to establish the new system's efficiency and potential impact on revenue connection.
Noting that the move would render meter readers redundant, KACWASCO announced that the readers would be redeployed to handle other responsibilities.
[caption caption="A section of Kakamega town"]
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KACWASCO Managing Director Fredrick Atwa estimated that the new system would boost revenue collected monthly from Sh19 million to Sh25 million.
Annually, the figures are expected to rise to Sh300 million from the current revenue of Sh253.8 million.
“The smart meters will provide a boost to revenue collection since we will be able to accurately determine how much water each consumer has used when billing for the month.
"The gadgets will minimise complaints related to incorrect billing,” Atwa stated.
Board chairman John Wamakonjio asserted that the county government was working closely with development partners to improve water supply and enhance service delivery to consumers.
[caption caption="Governor Wycliffe Oparanya launching a piped water project for households in Lurambi and Butere on 13/07/2018"]
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