Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Grootfontein Municipality says it is losing large volumes of water due to leakages and unaccounted use.
To address this, the town will begin installing prepaid water meters from August 2025, with plans to replace all conventional meters by December.
While the move is widely seen as a way to recover unpaid bills, acting chief executive officer Indileni Lungameni said it is also aimed at fixing infrastructural inefficiencies that have cost the town millions.
“We want to better account for water consumption or losses through leakages, improve the billing system, and automate the entire billing process,” Lungameni said.
The municipality did not reveal the percentage of water being lost, but Lungameni pointed to the issue of “non-revenue water”—water that is produced but not billed due to leaks, faulty meters, or illegal connections.
As of May 2025, municipal debts stood at N$217 million, up by 1% from the previous year.
The amount includes arrears for water, refuse removal, and property taxes.
The municipality hopes that prepaid meters will help reduce these debts.
A former municipal technician familiar with the system said that towns of similar size often experience water losses between 25% and 30%.
“You can’t fix water losses with meters alone. You need investment in infrastructure by replacing pipes, maintaining reservoirs, and monitoring pressure zones. But meters can help pinpoint where the losses are happening,” the technician said.
On June 30, the municipality announced the launch of a comprehensive infrastructure master plan to guide long-term repairs and investment.
The municipality has appointed CEPM and Partners Engineers (Pty) Ltd to spearhead the plan’s development and implementation.
The plan includes a status quo evaluation of roads, drainage, sewerage, and stormwater systems, an engineering determination of what is needed, and a prioritisation of projects in the short, medium, and long terms.
The municipality has deployed 11 field officers, split into smaller teams, to collect data throughout Grootfontein. Residents have been asked to cooperate with the teams.
