By The Tech Guy
In the past week, I’ve spent quite a bit of time brainstorming how to kick off this series on water and tech—something that covers all the key points without putting either of us into a deep slumber.
Let’s be real, the nitty-gritty details of water supply aren’t exactly the most thrilling topic. The journey of water from a river (or that questionable murky pond) to your kitchen tap is like a maze—complete with reservoirs, tanks, pipes, pumps, and, of course, that humble pipe that delivers water straight to your home. Along the way, there are a number of specialised processes—each demanding technical expertise and a serious financial commitment—to ensure that the water we drink is both safe and, well, decent enough to drink.
So, let’s not sugar-coat it: supplying water costs big bucks! With that in mind, it’s no surprise that when utility providers like Namwater or local municipalities are asked what their biggest challenge is, the answer is nearly always the same: Non-Revenue Water (NRW).
In plain English, NRW is when water that’s been processed, treated, and pumped just… doesn’t make it to the customer—or if it does, no one’s paying for it. It’s the water that disappears into the system, leaks away unnoticed, or gets consumed without proper billing. The result? The utility provider cleans it, pumps it, and doesn’t get paid for it.
Now, how big a problem is this? Well, the global average for NRW is a jaw-dropping 50%! That’s right—half of all water produced by utilities worldwide doesn’t make it to paying customers. And just like the class average in high school, this number reflects a mix of star students and the not-so-efficient ones.
For instance, Singapore has become the shining example, managing to keep losses under 5%. Meanwhile, some countries (whose names shall remain classified) lose an eye-watering 97% of the water they produce.
So, it seems logical to take a page from Singapore’s playbook to see how they’ve managed to achieve such impressive efficiency. Their secret? A hefty dose of digitalisation. Through a network of sensors and real-time monitoring systems, Singapore has managed to drastically reduce water loss.
Now, I know “digitalisation” sounds like one of those overused buzzwords we hear at every tech conference, but in this case, it really is the key. Maybe we should just start calling it Data—because it’s all about data, data, and more data.
Efficiency-driven businesses live by the mantra: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.†It’s simple, but true—if you don’t know there’s a leak, you can’t fix it. The more data you collect, the more control you have over the system. And this is where sensors come in. By placing them throughout the water infrastructure, we can track everything: how much water’s been pumped, the pressure levels, which valves are open, where leaks are hiding, how fast those leaks are being fixed, and even consumer trends.
Oh, and let’s not forget: in times of drought, one of the most important pieces of data might just be: who’s filling their pool this week? Yes, in the world of water management, data isn’t just numbers—it’s a powerful window into consumer behaviour, system inefficiencies, and priorities that drive how water is used and, unfortunately, wasted.
Now that we’ve tackled the system inefficiencies and successfully delivered the water to our customers, we still face the ever-more-complicated issue of revenue collection. Because let’s face it, just getting the water to the tap is only half the battle. The other half? Getting people to actually pay for it.
This brings up some thorny debates: sustainable billing, water as a human right, and the challenge of building a responsible consumer base—all working together to save water and ensure that everyone pays their fair share. It’s a delicate balancing act, and not one that’s easily solved. Enter the magic bullet—or so they say: prepaid meters.
Prepaid meters seem like a clever solution: customers pay in advance, ensuring revenue is secured before the water flows. It sounds like a win-win, right? But is it really the magic bullet for all our water woes, or is it more like opening Pandora’s Box?
Until next week.. The Tech Guy
