The Management of Guma Valley Water Company has notified its customers that it will embark on installation of meters in premises of all classes of customers starting July 2022.
In September 2021, Guma Valley Water Company signed a contract worth US$1.5 million for the procurement, delivery and installation of 5100 meters with BAYLAN LINKING PVC. at a ceremony held at Guma Building, Lamina Sankoh Street, the Company said in statement on Tuesday.
The Acting Managing Director, Guma Valley Water Company Ing. Francis Lahai, explained that the metering of customers water supply connections is part of the interventions under the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project.
Ing. Lahai said one of the Company’s key strategies is universal metering, adding that Guma intends to install over 50,000 meters in the next five years. He added that the objective is to increase on the revenue generation of the company, reduce leakages and non-revenue water and thereby improve on the water supply situation.
Ing. Lahai stated that four types meters; ultrasonic, smart, mechanical and telemetric will be installed together with some bulk meters.
He said that 1360 meters will be prepaid meters; and this will be installed at government Institutions and commercial premises, whilst a combination of 3640 ultrasonic and telemetric meters will be mainly for residential homes.
Meters are critical for effective management of any water distributions system, and they are the best defense against leaks.
Having a water meter allows the customer to measure and control their water consumption and therefore pay only for what they use.
The wider implication is that this will help in conservation of water and increased accessibility for many communities.
By Sallieu S Kanu