Prepayment water meters: Modderspruit experience

TLDR: In this paper, the authors share the experiences gained during the installation of prepaid water meters for community standpipes on the Modderspruit water supply project, the first of its kind in the country.

Abstract: Prepaid water meters were the option selected by the community when a basic water supply was offered by the DWAF. The aim of this paper is to share the experiences gained during the installation of prepaid water meters for community standpipes on the Modderspruit water supply project, the first of its kind in the country. Water supply is a basic need upon which rural communities are dependent for their health and development. Large sums of money are invested in capital projects to provide rural communities with adequate water. The sustainability of these projects depends on their successful operation, maintenance and, more especially, their return on investment.