Prepaid meters spark fears about access to water

Access to water could be made more difficult for Grootfontein residents if the roll-out of prepaid water meters goes ahead as planned.

This is the view of community activist Pablo Haihambo, following the municipality’s prepaid water project announcement, which is set to commence next month.

The initiative is part of the council’s broader strategy to modernise infrastructure and ensure the efficient management of water services across all communities, including informal settlements.

Haihambo says this could, however, exacerbate the situation for residents who already find it difficult to buy electricity units on a regular basis.

“Some fear sudden disconnection when credit runs out, even during emergencies. There’s also concern over a lack of public consultation and whether the meters would be reliable or fairly managed,” he says.

Prepaid water meters could hit vulnerable groups the hardest, particularly the elderly and unemployed, who may struggle to afford regular water credit, leading to health and hygiene risks, he says.

“Informal settlement residents often have unstable incomes and may already lack formal water connections, making this system even more challenging. The risk of water insecurity in these groups is high,” Haihambo says.

The activist has since sought an audience with the municipality, requesting broader community consultation before the project rolls out.

“We are also raising awareness about the possible impact, especially on vulnerable households. Our goal is to push for safety nets, such as free basic water units for the poor, and clear, fair guidelines on disconnections and emergency access to water,” he says.

The activist urges the municipality to implement a fair system with strong social protection policies in place.

“Water is a basic human right, not a privilege. While modernisation is important, it must not come at the cost of the vulnerable,” he says.

“Our people deserve affordable, accessible, and uninterrupted water access at all times.”

The conversion was triggered by rising debts, reaching N$217 million, and a loss of significant volumes of water due to leakages and unaccounted for use.

The municipality, in a recent notice, said the prepaid system would allow residents to pay for water in advance, thereby empowering them to monitor and control their consumption more effectively.

The municipality further explained that the project would rely on modern metering technology to provide accurate data and seamless service provision.

The municipality has set a goal to convert all conventional water meters to prepaid meters by December.

The municipality said its team has planned each step of the implementation process, and authorised personnel will be visiting households and business premises.

The council has encouraged all households and business owners at Grootfontein to be prepared for visits from the municipality’s installation teams.

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