Implementing prepayment water metering systems

This report is to be used as a guideline to help water providers and their customers decide what systems to choose and how to implement their choice in a way which builds sound relationships of accountability. The report focuses on South Africa where efforts to increase water supply coverage by new capital works must be balanced by promoting sustainability of both new and existing schemes. The main objective of this study is to contribute towards sustainability through the development of effective cost recovery and water supply management policies for use in communities where conventional billing is not viable. The scope is not confined to the evaluation of the devices themselves but includes the evaluation of the administrative support structures necessary to implement cost recovery using the devices. The report includes both a desk survey and a literature survey. The desk survey of unconventional metering or vending devices available in South Africa, or likely to become available, investigates the following systems: hand-held meter reading route planner, recorder, data processor with field-billing option; manually filled household distributed storage tanks; automatic filling regulated household distributed storage tanks; mechanically operated coupon activated vending units; electronically operated prepayment systems and PC based water utility management systems. Results of the literature survey of the socio-economic environment in which community water supply schemes are managed, including southern African case studies, are also a part of this report. Based on information gained, a decision support diagram for selecting possible retail cost recovery options and administrative support systems is included. The report stresses that metering, prepayment, and the accompanying systems should never be viewed as technical solutions to the problem but instead a holistic approach should always be adopted.