WATER ME TERING TECHNOLOGY
PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND WATER Last year, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) established the South African Metering Industry Association (SAMIA). WASA interviews chairperson Edwin Sibiya about the local metering industry.
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AMIA’s primary purpose is to protect the interests of consumers by ensuring that they are supplied with metering devices that meet South African standards. Meters are devices that measure electricity and water consumption on behalf of the consumer, and they must be accurate. Furthermore, SAMIA promotes the local manufacture of meters, thereby creating employment and encouraging skills development,” explains Sibiya. The dtic has designated and determined the minimum threshold for residential electricity and water meters.
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Water meters are approved at a 40% local content threshold and a 50-70% local threshold for residential electricity prepayment, post-paid and smart meters. This creates a local value chain in terms of manufacturing electrical and plastic components for the meters, as well as the installation, maintenance and technical support. “In 2020, over 51 000 meters were imported. These could have been locally manufactured,” states Sibiya. Compliance All water meters (locally manufactured and imported) that are used in South Africa need to comply with the Legal Metrology Act (No. 9 of 2014), which includes initial verification of these meters in a South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) laboratory. • 15 mm up and including 100 mm must comply with SANS 1529-1 • all prepaid water meters must comply with SANS 1529-9. According to Sibiya, the majority of imported meters do not comply with these standards – robbing the consumer, as they are often inaccurate. “This trend often occurs in gated communities, as these meters are perceived to be cheap. But it is illegal to use meters that do not comply with these standards. It is a strenuous process to comply, but it is worthwhile, as it ensures that consumers receive a quality product.”
Edwin Sibiya, chairman, SAMIA
A high number of faulty, non-compliant meters cause faulty utility readings for consumers, which result in non-payment to municipalities. All accredited meters must have a permanently visible SANS marking on them and all consumers can ask for the test certificate. Challenges Metering is of key importance to municipalities; meters assist in revenue collection, energy and water efficiency, and cost savings. “The biggest purchaser of meters is local government; however, local government are not meter experts,
