Staff Writer
Harare City Council (HCC) has said a batch of 40 000 water meters is set to be delivered before the end of the year on top the 20 000 ones already delivered by its partner, Helcraw Water (Pvt) Ltd.
In a statement, HCC said preparatory works for water meters installation has already begun.
“As the City of Harare thrives to improve water production and distribution, our partner Helcraw Water (Pvt) Ltd has taken delivery of 20 000 water meters to be installed around the city.
Another 40 000 meters will be delivered before the end of the year,”said HCC in a statement.
“The City of Harare and its partners are in the process of testing the water meters before they are installed.
The preparatory works for the installation of the water meters involves identifying suburbs where meters will be installed first.”
HCC said Helcrew has began a process of replacing old and worn out water pipes.
“Already, Helcraw has acquired new pipes to replace the old ones which burst regularly and were installed in the 1950s. Work is also in progress at Morton Jaffray Water Works to repair and also replace old equipment.
“Water production capacity is expected to improve from an average 320-50 megalitres a day to about 520 megalitres a day which will see a huge boost in water delivery to residents.”
The Harare water meters project is a public-private partnership to install prepaid smart water meters across the city to address water challenges, improve billing, and conserve water.
The project, led by the Harare City Council with partners like Helcraw Electrical and Laison Technology, involves installing smart meters and improving infrastructure such as old pipes and water treatment facilities. The initiative began with a pilot project and recently started a larger rollout, with the first batch of 20,000 meters delivered in late November 2025.
Project goals
Improve efficiency: The project aims to reduce water wastage and improve billing accuracy by monitoring actual consumption instead of relying on estimated bills.
Address water shortages: By monitoring usage and promoting conservation, the project seeks to better manage the city’s water supply.
Modernize infrastructure: The initiative is being implemented alongside the replacement of old pipes and the construction of a new water treatment plant to enhance the overall water delivery system.
Ensure fair billing: Residents will pay for the water they use, which is intended to be more efficient than current systems.