BWB in K40m phase two of prepaid meters project

Blantyre Water Board (BWB) has embarked on a K40 million ($100 000) second phase of installation of pre-paid billing meters project in Mudi residential estate to give customers an opportunity to regulate their water usage.

BWB public affairs officer Priscilla Mateyu said in an interview this week the pre-paid billing meters will be installed in the area over the next three weeks.

She said the second phase follows a successful review and evaluation of the pilot phase in New Naperi residential area.

Said Mateyu: “After the pilot phase in New Naperi, the board has finished monitoring and evaluating the project. A recommendation was made to start installing more prepaid meters in all areas and the starting point is Mudi Estate. The board is expected to install about 300 meters in Mudi alone and then later move to other areas in Blantyre City and its surrounding areas.”

She said BWB has put in place all requirements for the pre-paid meters installation project and is asking customers to be forthcoming and accommodating to this project.

Said Mateyu: “Our prepaid metering system unit is set. The staff were thoroughly trained on these prepaid meters and the project has taken off with a storm. We are doing sensitisation and registration before installing a meter.”

BWB has invested K40 million in the 300 prepaid meters for Mudi Estate and is in the process of purchasing 2 000 more pre-paid meters which will be installed in other areas in Blantyre before the end of the year.

Mateyu added that BWB is giving out 500 litres worth of free water upon installation of the prepaid meter.

She said BWB customers will also be able to buy pre-paid water credit at the time of installation and later at BWB Limbe Zone offices.

Mateyu said discussions are under way to secure a 24-hour pre-paid water credit selling point in Limbe for customers’ convenience.

BWB and the Northern Region Water Board were the first to embark on the pre-paid water billing project in the country.