Mulisa Simiyasa 

GROOTFONTEIN – The Grootfontein Municipality has installed 3 400 prepaid water meters across the town since December 2025, marking significant progress in its transition to a prepaid water management system.

The project targets the installation of approximately 7 000 meters for households, businesses, government buildings and churches. Municipal public relations officer Luke Salomo confirmed on Wednesday that the installations are currently compulsory and provided at no cost to residents. He, however, cautioned that the free installation will not be indefinite.

“Those who delay registering their names and who are still on the conventional water meter system will, at a later stage, be asked to pay an installation fee,” Salomo said. He added that the shift to a prepaid system is already contributing to improved municipal revenue collection and financial sustainability.Residents have welcomed the initiative, citing greater transparency and control over their monthly expenditure. Willie Horaseb (60), a resident of the Welcome location, said the system has encouraged more responsible water usage within his household.

“We are really thankful because since December, we all know that we have to buy water before using it, and this is a relief from the monthly water bills which were only sent to us after using the water,” he said.

Under the new arrangement, his municipal account now reflects only refuse removal, hygiene rates and taxes. Similarly, Petronella Gowases (35), from the TransNamib residential area, said her prepaid meter was installed in January. She noted that water consumption for her and her two children averages around N$200.

“We thank the municipality for this new system as we now use water carefully. We know once it is finished, we have to walk to town to buy water. We only use what we can afford,” she said.

Grootfontein, which attained municipal status in 1947, continues to abstract and process its water supply from local underground reservoirs.
-Nampa