South African municipalities are under growing pressure to modernise ageing water infrastructure, improve service delivery, and reduce non-revenue water losses that cost billions annually.

One scalable, data-driven solution gaining momentum is smart water metering.

Powered by IoT and low-power connectivity, smart meters are helping municipalities better monitor consumption, detect leaks early, and issue accurate, dispute-free bills.

The Non-Revenue Water Challenge

South Africa loses an estimated 47% of its municipal water through leaks, illegal connections, and billing errors.

For many municipalities already under financial strain, this represents massive revenue losses that could otherwise fund critical services.

Manual meter reading is still widely used, often resulting in estimated bills, disputes, and delayed interventions.

Smart metering automates the process, offering real-time, accurate consumption data that municipalities and residents can access via online dashboards.

The Role of IoT Connectivity

At the heart of smart metering lies IoT connectivity — enabling meters to transmit real-time data efficiently.

Unlike mobile networks that require high power and recurring data fees, Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) are specifically designed for low-data IoT applications.

Sigfox SA’s 0G LPWAN covers 95% of South Africa, supporting:

  • Real-time monitoring of water consumption.
  • Automated leak detection, with early warnings.
  • Reduced operational costs through remote readings.
  • Low power usage, with batteries lasting up to 10 years.

With nearly 1,500 base stations and over 1 million connected IoT devices, Sigfox SA’s LPWAN allows municipalities to roll out smart meters at scale, even in rural or informal areas.

Eastern Cape Rollout: Proof of Concept at Scale

A leading example is the Eastern Cape smart metering project, where 150,000 smart meters were deployed in partnership with Vodacom, Macrocomm, and Sigfox SA.

Despite being outside South Africa’s main economic centres, the project has already delivered:

  • More accurate billing.
  • Early leak detection, reducing water losses.
  • Greater transparency for residents.
  • Financial recovery from previously lost revenue.

This successful large-scale deployment proves the viability of smart metering well beyond Gauteng or Cape Town.

Beyond Billing: Unlocking Broader Benefits

Smart metering’s value extends far beyond billing accuracy:

  • Water conservation: Detect and address wastage in real time.
  • Infrastructure management: Identify weak points before costly failures occur.
  • Urban planning: Use consumption data to inform future infrastructure investments.
  • Economic development: Job creation across IoT hardware, data analytics, and system integration.
  • Reduced carbon emissions: Fewer manual site visits lower the municipality’s environmental footprint.

A Scalable, Cost-Effective Solution

Historically, many municipalities have struggled with the high costs of modernising infrastructure. But LPWAN platforms like Sigfox SA’s 0G network significantly lower these barriers.

Because LPWAN requires minimal infrastructure and low operating costs, municipalities avoid large capital outlays, making it a financially sustainable option for municipalities of all sizes.

Conclusion

Smart water metering is not a quick fix for South Africa’s water challenges, but it provides municipalities with one of the most immediate, practical ways to strengthen service delivery, improve finances, and build long-term water resilience.

With growing public-private partnerships and successful projects like the Eastern Cape rollout, South Africa’s smart water metering sector is poised for continued growth.

For more information on Sigfox-enabled smart water metering solutions, you can read IoT Technology Enables Utilities To Operate More Efficiently or visit https://sigfoxsa.co.za/ or contact [email protected]