The Port Harcourt Water Corporation (PHWC) says it is introducing smart water kiosks and universal metering as part of efforts to transform the corporation into a modern and customer-focused public utility.
The Managing Director of PHWC, Chief Ibibio O. Walter, disclosed this in Port Harcourt at the inauguration of the WASH Media Network and WASH Media Capacity-Building Skills Training Workshop.
Walter said the corporation was procuring approximately 73,000 water meters for deployment across Port Harcourt under its 100 per cent universal metering policy.
He said the policy would promote transparency and fairness by ensuring that customers were billed according to actual water consumption.
The PHWC boss also said IC card-driven smart water kiosks would be introduced to improve access to safe and affordable water, particularly in densely populated and underserved communities.
He said the corporation’s proposed tariff framework would make treated and quality-assured public water significantly more affordable, with consumers expected to pay about ₦16 to ₦20 for 20 litres, compared with the ₦200 or more many households currently pay to informal water vendors. He stressed, however, that effective metering would be critical to ensuring the sustainability and accountability of the water supply system.
“Metering is essential to transparency, fairness and sustainability,” Walter said.
He also announced the inauguration of the WASH Media Network, describing it as a partnership between the WASH sector and the media aimed at promoting public education, accurate reporting, constructive accountability and community engagement.
He said the accompanying capacity-building programme would strengthen journalists’ understanding and reporting of water, sanitation and hygiene issues.
