In a bid to increase water revenue, the Blantyre Water Board (BWB) in Malawi has disclosed plans to install approximately 2600 prepaid meters to its customers by the end of the year.

BWB Public Relations Officer Priscilla Mateyu told the Malawi News Agency that prepaid meters would help the board obtain maximum revenue as well as allow customers to only pay for water which they use.

The project is currently being implemented in New Naperi and Mudi Estate where close to 400 households have already been placed on a prepaid metering system. Mateyu said people in both areas have welcomed this new initiative. She said BWB has already pumped approximately K40 million (R million) for the 100 Mudi meters alone.

The BWB board expects to have about 2 600 customers using prepaid meters in the next eight months. Mateyu said BWB is receiving an overwhelming response from the public who are in dire need of the prepaid meters and as a solution.

One of the major challenges is the inability of some customers to understand how the prepaid metering system works. However, Mateyu said the board is busy educating the customers on the advantages of the system.

The old post-paid meters will still be used simultaneously with the prepaid meters until they are completely phased out in the near future.