The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has made significant progress in technologically advanced water management with the installation of its first smart meter in Bellville, Cape Town.
This event officially marks the beginning of a citywide rollout of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). The initiative aims to enhance early leak detection, improve billing accuracy, and increase overall system efficiency.
The AMI programme aims to modernise water metering by gradually replacing mechanical meters with digital technology to improve service delivery.
The City has allocated around R1.1 billion for the first phase, which will replace approximately 83,000 meters over the next three years.
The City of Cape Town said more than 680,000 meters across Cape Town are planned for upgrades.
“Installing smart water meters makes it easier to detect and attend to water leaks, resulting in water savings,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Badroodien said residents will also be able to track the volume of water consumed on their properties on the City’s App, to save money on their water bills.
“Among several other benefits, the new AMI meter readings are digitally automated, which provides accuracy in meter readings and customer billing.”
The smart meters automatically collect and transmit water usage data, removing the need for manual readings and decreasing the possibility of human error.
The City said customers can expect enhanced transparency, including access to detailed daily consumption information and notifications from the City’s App about water leaks or unusual usage patterns.
These meters, built to last up to 15 years, are equipped with anti-tampering features, constructed from materials with no scrap value, and feature advanced monitoring capabilities to detect movement or interference.
The AMI Programme
The AMI Programme is managed by the Water and Sanitation Directorate in collaboration with the wider City Directorates.
Together, they will oversee the planning, installation, data management, and system integration to make sure that Cape Town’s digital water network operates “safely and reliably.”
The smart water meter is equipped with a long-lasting battery designed to provide reliable operation for up to 15 years without replacement.
The City said the battery life generally coincides with the warranty period, which should ensure consistent performance throughout the meter’s guaranteed lifespan.
The battery is built into the device and cannot be removed; any attempt to remove it will damage the battery. Furthermore, the battery’s voltage is not compatible with any other appliances.
The City said the AMI system is designed to be resilient; however, if load shedding occurs, it may temporarily disrupt the communication network, not the meters themselves.
“The introduction of smart water meters does not change the City’s existing water tariffs. Tariffs are reviewed and approved each year through the City’s normal budget and public participation process, which considers operational and infrastructure needs across the water system,” said the City.
The smart water meters are battery-powered, so they will continue to record data even during these interruptions. Once the network is restored, the meters will upload the recorded data.
Residents whose meters are set to be replaced will receive prior notification and may experience brief, intermittent interruptions in their water supply during the installation process.
Notifications will be sent via email and SMS, provided the City has their updated contact information on file. Emails will go to the address associated with municipal billing.
All installation expenses will be covered by the City, with no additional charges for residents. Authorised PPD Engineering contractors will carry identification and work from clearly marked vehicles.
The rollout will take place in phases, with the first phase scheduled to continue until February 2029. From April to June 2026, installations will proceed in Oakglen, Bellville, and will extend to other parts of the city.
