Water Service Providers (WSPs) in Kenya are responsible for delivering water and sanitation services. This mandate includes sourcing water, treating it to ensure it is safe for human consumption, storing, and transporting it to end-users, and billing customers based on usage. As a capital-intensive process, WSPs rely heavily on income generated through billing to sustain their operations. However, inefficiencies in water systems mean that not all the water produced generates revenue. This unbilled water, referred to as Non-Revenue Water (NRW), accounts for substantial losses, with the latest report from the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) indicating an average NRW of 47% in the country. A significant portion of this loss is due to water theft.
Water theft negatively impacts both the commercial and operational sectors of WSPs. Illegal tapping is a common method of water theft, where hidden illegal connections are installed, often going unnoticed for extended periods. These connections are typically discovered by accident or through proactive investigations by utilities.
In this context, detecting tampering in water meters and addressing unauthorized usage is crucial not only for improving service delivery but also for boosting water resource productivity. One effective approach is to adopt mechanisms to detect sudden and significant decreases in water meter readings, which may signal tampering, leaks, or other issues affecting consumption.
Thika Water and Sewerage Company Ltd has embraced pattern data analysis to combat water theft. By leveraging data analytics, the utility analyzes consumption patterns and identifies anomalies that may suggest illegal usage. Anomaly detection compares real-time consumption behavior with expected patterns, and any deviation is flagged as an anomaly. These anomalies guide the utility on measures and controls to detect, prevent, and address illegal water consumption.
Thika Water has implemented this system for over a year across its 42,000 domestic and commercial connections. The results have been promising, with improvements reported in several areas:
Customer Satisfaction
Cost Savings
Decision-Making Efficiency and Accuracy
Operational Performance
To achieve these results, Thika Water has mapped all 42,000 connections using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and generates monthly and yearly consumption reports. By comparing consumption data month by month through pivot tables, they identify accounts with sudden increases or decreases in water use. Any accounts registering unusual consumption trends are flagged for investigation, and regular monitoring is conducted to check for illegal connections.
Other strategies water utilities can use to combat water theft include;
Public Awareness and Engagement: Educating staff and the community about the consequences of water theft and the importance of conserving water is vital. Encouraging the community to report illegal connections, perhaps by offering rewards, can also help curb water theft. Building trust with customers by educating them about billing, meter readings, and the impact of illegal connections further reduces the incentive for theft.
Smart Meters: These meters provide accurate real-time measurements of water consumption, allowing utilities to detect irregularities immediately. They help in reducing human errors and tampering.
District Metered Areas (DMAs): DMAs allow utilities to divide water networks into manageable segments, enabling them to monitor water flow in specific districts. This helps isolate areas with high water losses, making it easier to identify theft.
Routine Meter Checks: Regular inspections of water meters help utilities identify signs of tampering, such as damaged seals or altered readings. This can significantly reduce water theft over time.
Collaboration with Law Enforcement: Partnering with law enforcement agencies, such as the Water Police Unit, can be effective in cracking down on water theft. Joint operations and monitoring can lead to swift identification and resolution of theft incidents.
Tackling Water Theft through Data Analytics; A Case Study of Thika Water
Water Service Providers (WSPs) in Kenya are responsible for delivering water and sanitation services. This mandate includes sourcing water, treating it to ensure it is safe for human consumption, storing, and transporting it to end-users, and billing customers based on usage. As a capital-intensive process, WSPs rely heavily on income generated through billing to sustain their operations. However, inefficiencies in water systems mean that not all the water produced generates revenue. This unbilled water, referred to as Non-Revenue Water (NRW), accounts for substantial losses, with the latest report from the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) indicating an average NRW of 47% in the country. A significant portion of this loss is due to water theft.
Water theft negatively impacts both the commercial and operational sectors of WSPs. Illegal tapping is a common method of water theft, where hidden illegal connections are installed, often going unnoticed for extended periods. These connections are typically discovered by accident or through proactive investigations by utilities.
In this context, detecting tampering in water meters and addressing unauthorized usage is crucial not only for improving service delivery but also for boosting water resource productivity. One effective approach is to adopt mechanisms to detect sudden and significant decreases in water meter readings, which may signal tampering, leaks, or other issues affecting consumption.
Thika Water and Sewerage Company Ltd has embraced pattern data analysis to combat water theft. By leveraging data analytics, the utility analyzes consumption patterns and identifies anomalies that may suggest illegal usage. Anomaly detection compares real-time consumption behavior with expected patterns, and any deviation is flagged as an anomaly. These anomalies guide the utility on measures and controls to detect, prevent, and address illegal water consumption.
Thika Water has implemented this system for over a year across its 42,000 domestic and commercial connections. The results have been promising, with improvements reported in several areas:
To achieve these results, Thika Water has mapped all 42,000 connections using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and generates monthly and yearly consumption reports. By comparing consumption data month by month through pivot tables, they identify accounts with sudden increases or decreases in water use. Any accounts registering unusual consumption trends are flagged for investigation, and regular monitoring is conducted to check for illegal connections.
Other strategies water utilities can use to combat water theft include;
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