Helcraw Water Private Limited is spearheading a major water infrastructure initiative in Harare that has already seen over 40,000 households fitted with prepaid water meters, with the City of Harare targeting 100,000 installations this year.
The initiative also includes a large-scale rehabilitation of Morton Jaffray Water Works, aimed at nearly doubling daily water production for residents. The plant currently produces an average of just over 300 megalitres per day. Once works being carried out with Helcraw are complete, output is expected to rise to around 520 megalitres per day.
In a statement, the City Council said the partnership with Helcraw is also tackling water losses caused by aging infrastructure.
“The City of Harare has been losing water through leakages caused by old water pipes but through its partnership with Helcraw, the City is replacing the old pipes,” the statement said.
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“The rehabilitation of Morton Jaffray Water Works, the replacing of old pipes and installation of smart water meters will certainly go a long way in alleviating water challenges faced in some parts of Harare.”
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said the prepaid meters being installed under the Helcraw partnership will benefit ratepayers.
“So, once you have a prepaid water meter, if you do not get water, we will not charge you. We are no longer giving you a bill based on estimates,” he said.
“For Council, it means we get our money in advance and in real time and we can invest in water,” he added.
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