2017 ICT4D Conference

Sustainability of water infrastructure is highly dependent on sound operation and maintenance. Studies in several developing countries have shown that for all water points constructed, half of them will breakdown within one year of installation. Timely response to water supply system break downs and accountable revenue collection are essential to ensure sustainable water supply to target communities.

This presentation provides information and case studies on use of water point monitoring sensors to increase efficiency in revenue collection and maintenance while entrenching transparency in the operations of community and government managed water systems.

Catholic Relief Services and its partners have installed water point monitoring sensors that relay functionality and water abstraction data on a daily basis. The sensors have been installed on boreholes in remote villages of Northern Kenya. Most parts of Northern Kenya have poor cellular network connection hence the developers of the technology came up with an ingenious sensor that transmits data over satellite connection.

Data generated from the sensors has been useful in advising the pump mechanic on potential break down of the borehole pump hence encouraging timely response to repair any part of the system that could be breaking down. On the other hand, water abstraction (quantity) data generated by the sensors assists in confirming water sales on a daily, weekly or monthly. This contributes to accountability and transparency in revenue collection.

With further developments of this system, aquifer levels and water quality data could be generated periodically to inform future water point developments and water safety/health in a locality.