FACTSHEET                                                                                                 11 April 2002

                             FACTSHEET ON PRE-PAID WATER SYSTEM

 ADVANTAGES 

Ø            The product is easily installed

Ø            Consumers can manage consumption and finances

Ø            All components are SABS approved

Ø            The meter box is resistant to heat and soil contamination

Ø            The non-corroding materials have no scrap value (can’t be sold)

Ø            It is easy to operate

Ø            An anti-tamper switch shuts down the system when tampering occurs

Ø            If the system breaks down, 200 litres of emergency water are supplied

Ø            It indicates the condition of valve and battery, the water reading, remaining credit and the applicable tariff

Ø            The system creates management reports on water consumption, night flow rate, number of transactions, etc

Ø            Other municipal tariffs like refuse removal, rates and taxes and sewerage can be attached to the system

Ø            Communication between units can be via radio frequency or protected cable

Ø            No need for water accounts

Ø            No arrears accumulation

 DISADVANTAGES

Ø            The system is privately owned, hence problems of access for officials

Ø            There is only one suitable meter on the market

Ø            It is expensive (R1 100 excluding VAT per unit)

Ø            Communication via radio frequency is limited to 200 metres maximum

Ø            The current supplier is in provisional liquidation

Ø            The smart card can be lost

Ø            At this stage, the system can be vandalised

Ø            It can’t work without buy-in from the community

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