Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSCO) has reiterated that the installation of the pre-paid meters in some parts of Lusaka has had cost benefit for both the company and the residents.
LWSCO Managing Director George Ndongwe said the company has cut down costs in terms of paper work and man power in the areas were they carried out the pilot project.
Mr. Ndongwe told ZANIS in an interview the company no longer prints and delivers bills to the customers, which used to be a costly undertaking.
He added that the company has further cut down costs on meters readers, as there is no need for the company to employ more meter readers.
“The company no longer faces the problem of unsettled bills in these areas because their clients are now prompted to get water units least they run out of water at their premises,” he explained.
Mr. Ndongwe who expressed happiness over the response the company has received from the clients in the areas were they have installed the prepaid meters said his company will soon extend the exercise to some other parts of the province.
LWSCO two years ago embarked on a pilot project of installing prepaid water meters in Libala and some parts of Kabwata..
And residents in Libala have expressed happiness over the company’s installation of prepaid water meters in their area.
Some residents talked to by ZANIS over the weekend said that the use of the prepaid meters was cost saving as they now know how to manage the consumption of water minus any wastage.
One of the residents, Katherine Mwale said people in her area are now cautious with the way they use their water unlike the time when there were no prepaid meters.
“People my area are now careful with the way the use their water because now we know that if we waste water its us who will spend more money on getting water units unlike the time when there were no prepaid meters,” Mr. Mwale explained
She added that most residents are now adhering to the water utility company advice over the need to fix all leaking taps, having short showers and using buckets to water the gardens unlike the use of hose pipes .
And another resident said that the pilot project by the water utility company has been a success and thus the need by the company to extend this exercise to other areas in the province.
David Kapekwe said he now budgets for his water units monthly and that his family’s consumption does not exceed the budget.
“I now budget for my water monthly and fortunate enough my family’s consumption does not exceed my budget,” he said.
He further said that LWSC will be running effectively if it installs these meters in many places because some people are reluctant to pay their water bills hence crippling the company financially.
ZANIS
I wish Zesco could take a leaf rather than increasing tarrifs every year.
Thats encouraging. However we need running water 24hour service
This is wonderful for the company but what does it mean for the meter readers in terms of employment? Will the consumers benefit from the low costs realised. These are the questions companies like LWSCO should be answering instead of just looking at the profit margins which may not benefit the Zambians. Consumers in most cases are get nothing out of these measures. If LWSCO can respond, I will be grateful
The sad part is LWSCO is locked into that particular manufacturers Pre- Paid system as only MS and POS works on there meters, therefore LWASCO will pay in the long term. They can increase prices willy nilly….
Michael Hardman
You have provided an alternative either