Introduction: Transforming Water Access with Smart Prepaid Water Metering
Across Africa, utilities, governments, NGOs, and private developers face growing pressure to deliver reliable, transparent, and financially sustainable water services. Traditional metering systems struggle with revenue losses, non-payment, leakage, and lack of real-time visibility.
Water Forever provides advanced prepaid communal water meters and Water ATMs, engineered specifically for African water infrastructure challenges. Our solutions enable utilities to improve revenue collection, reduce non-revenue water, and ensure fair, accountable access to clean water for communities, institutions, and large-scale developments.
This comprehensive guide explains each of our prepaid and bulk smart water metering solutions, how they work, and why they are trusted across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, and the wider East African region.
What Are Prepaid Communal Water Meters & Water ATMs?
Prepaid communal water meters, commonly referred to as Water ATMs, allow users to pay before consuming water, similar to prepaid electricity systems. Consumers purchase water credits using smart cards, mobile money, or tokens, ensuring:
- Guaranteed revenue for utilities
- Controlled water distribution
- Reduced illegal connections
- Transparent billing
- 24/7 access to water in communal locations
These systems are ideal for:
- Informal settlements
- Rural water projects
- Refugee camps
- Schools, hospitals, and institutions
- Real estate developments and gated communities
Prepaid Water Meter – STS (GPRS / NB-IoT) Smart Water Meter
Overview
The STS Prepaid Smart Water Meter (GPRS / NB-IoT) is a highly secure, remotely managed prepaid metering solution designed for urban utilities and large-scale deployments.
Key Features
- STS-compliant encryption for maximum security
- GPRS / NB-IoT connectivity for real-time data transmission
- Remote credit loading and consumption monitoring
- Tamper detection and automatic alerts
- Accurate volumetric measurement
Benefits for Utilities & Governments
- Real-time visibility into consumption patterns
- Remote meter management without physical visits
- Reduced operational costs
- Strong protection against fraud and tampering
Ideal Use Cases
- City water utilities
- National water authorities
- Large residential developments
- Commercial and industrial water users
Prepaid Water Meter – STS Integrated Water Meters
Overview
The STS Integrated Prepaid Water Meter combines the meter body and prepaid functionality into a single compact unit, making it ideal for household connections and small-scale networks.
Key Features
- Fully integrated STS prepaid technology
- Compact, tamper-resistant design
- Supports smart cards and token-based vending
- Long battery life for low-maintenance operation
Benefits
- Easy installation and replacement
- Accurate billing for individual connections
- Improved revenue assurance
- Reduced disputes between utilities and consumers
Applications
- Domestic households
- Apartments and housing estates
- Small commercial premises
Bulk Postpaid Smart Water Meters
Overview
Bulk Postpaid Smart Water Meters are designed for high-volume consumption monitoring, where billing is done after usage based on accurate digital readings.
Key Features
- High-flow measurement accuracy
- Remote data transmission and reading
- Integration with utility billing systems
- Leak and anomaly detection
Benefits
- Accurate billing for bulk consumers
- Reduced manual meter reading
- Improved water accountability
- Data-driven water management decisions
Ideal For
- Commercial buildings
- Industrial plants
- Apartment blocks
- Water distribution zones
Bulk Prepaid Water Meters – STS
Overview
Bulk Prepaid STS Water Meters combine high-capacity measurement with prepaid functionality, ensuring guaranteed payment before consumption for bulk users.
Key Features
- STS-compliant prepaid encryption
- High-flow capacity for bulk distribution
- Remote vending and monitoring
- Anti-tamper and backflow protection
Benefits
- Eliminates payment defaults
- Improves cash flow for utilities
- Encourages responsible water use
- Ideal for controlled bulk supply
Use Cases
- Water kiosks and Water ATMs
- Construction sites
- Institutional water supply
- Wholesale water distribution
Prepaid Smart Water Meter with LoRaWAN Gateway (AMI)
Overview
The LoRaWAN-enabled Prepaid Smart Water Meter (AMI) is a next-generation solution designed for large, distributed networks requiring long-range, low-power communication.
Key Features
- LoRaWAN communication for wide-area coverage
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) support
- Centralized data management dashboards
- Scalable for thousands of meters
- Ultra-low power consumption
Advantages
- Ideal for rural and peri-urban deployments
- Minimal infrastructure costs
- Long battery life
- Supports future smart city integration
Applications
- National and county water projects
- Rural water schemes
- Smart city initiatives
- NGO and donor-funded water programs
Why Choose Water Forever for Smart Water Metering Solutions?
Water Forever is a trusted provider of smart water metering and water management solutions across East Africa.
Our Strengths
- Proven deployments across multiple African countries
- Solutions designed for local infrastructure realities
- Secure, scalable, and future-ready technology
- Dedicated technical support and implementation expertise
- Strong understanding of utility, NGO, and government needs
Countries We Serve
Our prepaid and smart water metering solutions are actively deployed and supported in:
- Kenya
- Uganda
- Rwanda
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- East Africa & Regional Projects
Conclusion: Building Sustainable Water Systems for Africa
Prepaid communal water meters and smart water metering systems are no longer optional—they are essential tools for sustainable water service delivery in Africa.
By choosing Water Forever, utilities and organizations gain access to secure, intelligent, and scalable water metering solutions that improve revenue collection, reduce water losses, and ensure equitable access to clean water.