CHATTOGRAM, Sept 10, 2023 (BSS) - Chattogram WASA is going to start the 
installation of 3,000 smart meters in the first phase under the pilot project 
to solve the long-standing water wastage problem known as system loss or non-
revenue sector. 

The concerned project director said that a positive report was received from 
BUET after sending the meters to BUET for testing before installation.

In the first phase, CWASA is working on a plan to install smart meters at 
city's Chandgaon and its surrounding areas at a cost of Taka 5.8 crore. 

The local agent Padma Smart Technology meters of the American company will do 
the installation works within the next two months.

The bills of residential and commercial customers of the area will be 
calculated with these digital meters. WASA has taken the initiative of 
digitizing the meter system to reduce the suffering of customers due to meter 
readers, the sources added.

"These meters do not require any reader. Without human touch, the meter 
reading will be auto transferred to the central server. If it is turned on, 
water theft will stop. Water wastage will also be reduced," the source added. 

CWASA Chief Engineer Maksud Alam told BSS that the installation works of 
smart meters will start within the next two months. A positive report was 
received from BUET after sending the meters to BUET for testing before 
installation, he added. 

If the pilot project is successfully implemented, we will gradually bring all 
the customers under the smart meter in the entire city, he said.

CWASA Smart Meter Installation Project Director and CWASA ICT Circle System 
Analyst Engineer Shafiqul Basar told BSS that 3,000 meters will be installed 
under the pilot project.

The tender was called on January 11, 2022.

In early 2020, 5 Smart Meters based on LORA Gateway were installed on a trial 
basis. These experimental meters were installed at High Level Road and 
Bagghona in Lalkhanbazar area of the city. 

Five Smart Meters were installed at High Level Road and Bagghona in 
Lalkhanbazar area of the city in early 2020. 

CWASA took up this pilot project after finding success in the meter's 
performance after one year of use.

As such, the daily non-revenue amount of water is about 12 crore litres and 
Chattogram Wasa is losing more than Taka 45 crore in revenue every year.

WASA officials hoped that water wastage and illegal sale can be prevented if 
bills are calculated through digital meters.