In a significant leap forward for sustainable resource management and digital transformation, the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) of Botswana has successfully deployed over 33,000 smart pre-paid water meters. This landmark achievement, realised in partnership with technology leader Lesira-Teq and implemented by Leeroy Systems, marks a pivotal transition from conceptualisation to large-scale reality for smart water metering in the region.
This ambitious initiative is set to transform how water is managed, conserved, and billed across Botswana, utilising cutting-edge Internet of Things (IoT) technology to create a more efficient, transparent, and responsive utility network.
Visualising the Transformation: A “Sea of Green”
The scale of the deployment is vast and is best illustrated by the project’s operational maps. Across numerous neighbourhoods, the maps are now dominated by a “sea of green”—each dot representing a successfully installed smart meter, actively connected and communicating data.
This dense deployment (pictured below) is more than just infrastructure; it represents thousands of households and businesses now integrated into a modern water management system, ensuring reliable service and accurate billing.
Each green circle represents a household connected to the new smart prepaid water system, demonstrating the comprehensive reach of the deployment.
The Technology Backbone: Smart Solutions for Sustainable Water
The success of this project hinges on the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) provided by Lesira-Teq. These smart pre-paid meters offer immediate benefits for both the utility and the consumer.
For WUC, the system ensures improved revenue collection and operational efficiency. The real-time data provided by the meters allows for rapid leak detection and identification of anomalies, drastically reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW), water lost through leaks or inaccuracies before reaching the customer.
For consumers, the pre-paid system offers greater control over their consumption and expenditure. It empowers users to budget effectively, promotes awareness of water usage patterns, and prevents unexpected high bills.
Crucially, the entire network is connected via a LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) infrastructure. This technology is vital, offering reliable, long-range communication with low power consumption, making it the ideal backbone for widespread utility deployment.
The extensive reach of the LoRaWAN network ensures connectivity across diverse urban landscapes.
A Partnership for Progress
Moving over 33,000 meters from concept to active field installation required significant logistical coordination and technical expertise. The achievement highlights the strong synergy between WUC’s strategic vision, the robust technology of Lesira-Teq, and the implementation prowess of Leeroy Systems.
The collaboration ensured that the deployment was executed efficiently, minimising disruption to consumers while rapidly bringing the benefits of smart technology online.
A Benchmark for the Future
The successful rollout of this project sets a new benchmark for utility modernisation in Southern Africa. It demonstrates how digital technology can be effectively leveraged to address critical challenges in resource management and service delivery.
As WUC continues to expand its smart metering program, the foundation laid by this achievement ensures a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable water future for Botswana.
