How Prepaid Water Meters Are Changing Public Tap Access in Rwanda

With this new innovation, residents can now access clean water conveniently at any time of day or night. In areas like Kagugu, the shift to modern prepaid public taps has eliminated long queues and disputes, making water collection faster and more orderly.

Delphine Uwamahoro, who manages the public tap in Kagugu, Gasabo District, says the new system has greatly improved their lives. “We’re grateful to WASAC Group for introducing this technology, which enables our customers to fetch water anytime—even when we’re at church or busy with other activities,” she explains. “Since the meters are connected to Mobile Money, we can easily buy water credit, check balances, and monitor usage right from our phones, without needing to travel long distances.”

The system operates through solar-powered water hubs each with up to three taps equipped with electronic flow meters and smart valves. Residents can fetch water 24/7 without the need for a kiosk operator. All it takes is a token: one tap, and water flows instantly. The innovation eliminates delays, human error and reliance on fixed schedules.

Dr. Kabasha, the CEO of WASAC Group emphasizes the wider impact of this innovation on the utility’s operations. “Prepaid meters support WASAC Group’s efforts to improve revenue collection, since payment is made before water is consumed. The system provides online monitoring of customer consumption and management of consumer behavior. It also reduces commercial losses by eliminating meter reading and data handling errors. We are exploring ways to extend the system to households in the future.”

Additionally, CEO Dr. Asaph Kabaasha confirmed that WASAC Group intends to pilot two types of meters to enhance transparency, reduce errors, and improve customer service for commercial and household users. These will include prepaid meters, which work on a pay-before-use system, and postpaid meters, which automatically transmit usage data, removing the need for WASAC staff to perform monthly manual readings.

Karegeya Innocent, a regular customer at one of the public taps in Kagugu, says the difference is life-changing. "This system has made it so easy for us. I can fetch clean water at any time, even late at night. It saves time and has brought a sense of dignity," he shared.

Beyond improving service reliability and transparency, WASAC Group is also planning to expand the system to residential and commercial households. In June 2025, the utility invited bids for the supply and installation of high-precision smart meters, with a focus on quality installation, accurate testing, and staff training to ensure long-term sustainability. The prepaid public tap system demonstrates that smart technology can be tailored to meet essential needs, ensuring equitable access and improving utility efficiency. And for residents like Karegeya Innocent, it’s more than just innovation but it’s dignity delivered.

This transformative solution is being piloted under the Water Operators Partnership (WOP) project titled Scaling Universal Access to Safe and Climate Resilient Water Services in Rwanda – SCALE, with a focus on small settlements. It is implemented with the support of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands through the Sustainable Water Fund (FDW), managed by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).