Smart Reader

Water is our most precious resource and must be conserved. Currently, South Africa’s national non-revenue water is estimated to be between 39% and 47%. This means nearly half of all treated municipal water is lost to leaks, pipe bursts, or unbilled consumption before it can generate revenue.

Maintaining extensive water infrastructure is a complex challenge. Unavoidable pressure fluctuations occur, and underground leaks can remain undetected for months. Funding the necessary maintenance and upgrade programs requires significant capital, which often necessitates tariff increases and additional levies for paying residents to bridge the gap.

Another factor that impacts the fiscus is low-income households, who are exempt from paying for their water. Unfortunately, when consumers receive water free of charge, they often fail to see its value, and have no incentive to repair leaks, or use water sparingly. 
 

The impact is substantial: a single leaky pipe left undetected for three months can waste up to 850,000 liters of water. This not only strains the municipal supply but also places residents who rely on interim meter readings at a high risk for unexpected, excessive water charges once actual readings are eventually taken.