Gatundu: Gatundu Water and Sanitation Company has received 2000 new water meters under the Conditional Liquidity Support Grant (CLSG) 2 Intervention 11 Project, marking a significant milestone in the company's efforts to enhance water service delivery and ensure accurate billing for customers across the constituency. The modern water meters, which are currently undergoing engraving processes, represent a major investment in upgrading the area's water infrastructure and addressing challenges related to billing inaccuracies and service inefficiencies.
According to Kenya News Agency, the primary objective of this comprehensive project is to replace old and faulty meters that have been contributing to billing disputes and revenue losses for the water company, while ensuring customers receive fair and transparent billing based on actual consumption. The replacement exercise is set to begin in strategic locations around Kamwangi town, Gatukuyu, Mang'u, Ngorongo center, Igegania, Kanyoni, and Gituamba, targeting areas where meter malfunctions have been most problematic.
The advanced meters come equipped with unique tracking codes for identification purposes, providing enhanced security features that make them virtually impossible to resell if stolen, addressing a common challenge faced by water companies across the country. Mary Njoki, a resident of Kamwangi town, expressed optimism about the meter replacement project, noting that old meters had caused frequent billing disputes in her area. 'We have been receiving inconsistent bills for months due to faulty meters. This replacement will bring clarity to our water bills and help us plan our household budgets better,' she said.
The installation of tracking codes on the meters represents an innovative approach to combating theft of water infrastructure, which has been a significant challenge for many water service providers in Kenya. By upgrading to reliable meters with anti-theft features, the company aims to enhance operational efficiency, reduce non-revenue water, and ensure sustainable service delivery to over 15,000 customers across the Gatundu North constituency. The CSLG project is a financial assistance program that provides support to water companies from the government.