Kampala Water (KW) is making significant strides in its mission to combat Non-Revenue Water (NRW), as highlighted during a recent technical meeting held at the Jinja Road offices. Comprising key department heads from Water Production and Supply, Non-Revenue Water, Network, Inventory, Billing, and Data Management, the teams convened to devise strategies for scaling sustainable water services, intensifying sales, and tackling NRW in the region.
Eng. Mahmood Lutaaya, the General Manager of Kampala Water (GMKW), opened the meeting by emphasizing the critical need to address the issue of NRW, stating that the corporation’s growth would be hindered if it continues to experience alarming losses caused by physical or commercial factors.
To combat NRW effectively, Eng. Lutaaya urged immediate action to prioritize the metering of both private and government-owned fire hydrants. This initiative would provide valuable insights into periodic water usage and enable informed decision-making. He further stressed the importance of establishing a dedicated team to conduct daily inspections of all hydrants in the region, with a weekly report to identify and mitigate any misuse.
Eng. Lutaaya also expressed concern about meter tampering, a common practice among bulk water sellers. These sellers often resort to illegal actions, such as placing magnets on meters, to manipulate accuracy. To combat this issue, management intends to introduce a pre-payment system, which will address challenges related to timely bill payment. Eng. Lutaaya emphasized the need to replace outdated meters with ultrasonic meters, facilitating enhanced supervision and monitoring.
In pursuit of practical solutions, Eng Lutaaya assigned Principal Engineer Mr. Francis Omara and Senior Engineer Mr. Jamiru Ntumwa specific responsibilities. Mr. Omara would oversee the readings of meters, ensuring accurate data collection, while Mr. Ntumwa would be responsible for supervising the state of meters installed at hydrants and bulk water sellers.
Eng Lutaaya urged the teams to thoroughly investigate all aspects contributing to NRW and emphasized the importance of achieving growth in the Kampala Water region. By implementing these measures and remaining committed to their mission, Kampala Water is poised to make significant progress in its battle against Non-Revenue Water.
