Smart metering for non-revenue water reduction in emerging African cities: a pilot study

Abstract

African cities have high non-revenue water (NRW) losses due to leakages, illegal connections, and meter irregularities. Inefficiencies endanger financial sustainability and service delivery in Kigali, Rwanda, where NRW was 35–45%. This study proposes a pilot intervention using Kamstrup MULTICAL® 21 smart meters and LoRaWAN® connectivity technology to reduce these losses. In three districts, 500 smart meters were installed for residential, business, and institutional consumption. Three months were spent on baseline, one month on installation, and six months on post-installation monitoring. Descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, regression models, and qualitative customer and technician questionnaires were used to analyse daily automated readings, leakage alarms, and tamper detection from the meters. Results indicated a 23% decline in NRW, 64% faster leak repair, and 41% fewer billing complaints. Real-time SMS use notifications boosted consumer confidence and efficiency.