Botswana’s Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has significantly bolstered the nation’s water-resource security, particularly in the capital Gaborone and surrounding regions, through the successful installation of over 33,000 smart prepaid water meters. This landmark initiative, executed in partnership with technology firms Lesira-Teq and Leeroy Systems, represents a major leap forward in utility modernization and efficiency for the water-stressed nation. The project’s primary objective is to dramatically reduce non-revenue water (NRW), with projections indicating a potential cut of up to 48% in treated-water losses.
The core of the initiative is the use of advanced LoRaWAN technology, enabling real-time leak detection and immediate alerts. This capability allows the WUC to transition from reactive maintenance to proactive leak management, a critical factor in conserving scarce water resources. By integrating prepaid functionality, the meters also improve the WUC’s financial sustainability and enhance customer control over water consumption. This successful deployment now establishes Botswana as a regional benchmark, offering a vital blueprint for other African nations grappling with similar water-management challenges and seeking to modernise their aging utility infrastructure.
