New and unconventional cost recovery techniques

South Africa has a history of water schemes in rural areas which supply “free water”. As in other countries where water schemes have been built and cost recovery has not been implemented, the operation, maintenance and administration of these “free water” schemes has been poor and, as a result, the reliability of the service has declined rapidly. In addition Government is concerned that as more schemes are commissioned the increasing operation and maintenance subsidy burden will leave little or no money for the development of new schemes for those who currently have nothing (DWAF 1994). Because of these issues and to help them develop a cost recovery policy for community water schemes, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry appointed the CSIR to ascertain what unconventional water vending and metering devices, including prepaid meters, are available in South Africa, to evaluate their suitability for use on community water schemes and to evaluate the broad implications of the products on administrative support requirements and costs.