The Smart Water Meter challenge initiated by the Shoprite Group is one of the most notable water saving projects to hit the water deprived province. Aimed at Western Cape schools, the initiative smart water meters measures and reports on water use by the minute by transmitting user-friendly consumption information to an internet app‚ and users are notified of any unexpected usage patterns via SMS and email.
The initiative has partnered with CapeTalk, Pragma and Bridgiot, a start-up company affiliated with Stellenbosch University. It is being installed at Cape Town schools daily, and schools such as Isikhokelo Primary School have already reported savings of over 10 000 litres of water per day.
“Implementing smart water metres at 200 schools in the Mother City will result in the saving of approximately 2 million litres of water every single day,” says Professor Thinus Booysen from Stellenbosch University.
A number of companies have help support the cause, these include Premier Foods which has committed to giving 50 smart water meters.
If more companies want to support the challenge , they must fund the meter as well as the installation and management thereof for a period of 12 months plus a once-off allowance for any repairs and essential maintenance required to reduce leakages and other water losses.
