Susteq has been active in Kenya since 2013, and since then has expanded its presence in Africa to Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and other African countries. The Susteq Solution has been successfully implemented in both rural and urban areas in those countries by utility companies and NGO’s.
At the same time, we also work with several African resellers, who distribute our technology to local commercial companies and utilities.
Our projects over the recent period include:
Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC), Rwanda
Situation: WASAC wanted to improve revenue collection and enhance water service provision to customers.
The Susteq Solution: After a first successful pilot we supplied 50 Susteq systems with the aim to install 200 in the city of Kigali and the Eastern province.
Number of people benefitting: The Susteq Solution enables the safe en affordable water supply for at least 180,000 people living in Kigali and Eastern province.
Nairobi City Water & Sewage Company (NCWSC), Kenya
Situation: NCWSC wanted to reduce non-revenue water and to make low-cost water available to families living in slum areas.
The Susteq Solution: Working with our reseller in Kenya, we equipped a total of 230 of NCWSC’s water points in urban slum areas with our prepaid water ATM’s. The income from pro-poor priced water means that water points can be maintained and the quality of the water can be guaranteed.
Number of people benefitting: The Susteq Solution enables the safe en affordable water supply for at least 50,000 people living in informal settlements in Nairobi.
National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), Kampala, Uganda
Situation: NWSC wanted to build individual water connections in several urban areas in Kampala. This was realized by the use of standpipes with metal casing. The locking mechanism can be opened with a special key.
The Susteq Solution: We provided pre-paid water ATM’s for these individual connections.
Advantages: No water meters required, no billing, upfront payment and no need for disconnecting or reconnecting clients who fail to pay.
Return on investment for these meters is 6-12 months when the meters are used for clients with bad payment records.
Sheepcare, Nairobi, Kenya
Situation: In Kenya, local entrepreneur Sheepcare provides drinking water to inhabitants of slum areas in Nairobi. The organization wanted to upgrade and expand its water supply service.
The Susteq Solution: In 2016 two Susteq prepaid water ATM’s were installed, allowing Sheepcare to serve the community with water during more hours of the day and also on Sundays, when the kiosk selling water was previously closed. During the last five years, over 40 million litres of water has been dispensed, serving 4,400 people.
Water price reduction: The Susteq Solution enabled Sheepcare to decrease its water prices by 10 per cent.
ICS in Maganzo and Masagala villages in Tanzania
Situation: Dutch NGO ICS installed 25 water points in Maganzo and Masagala villages in northern Tanzania. The project, funded by HDIF, after installation was handed over to local utility company Magawasa.
The Susteq Solution: we equipped the water points with our prepaid water ATM’s, allowing over 12,000 villagers to use a prepaid token to buy clean and affordable water.
Advantages: Using the Susteq Solution, Magawasa generates income that is used for maintaining the water point infrastructure systems, guaranteeing a continued safe water supply for the users.
“The water supply has really helped us. Earlier, we were not sure where this water came from. We were using it because we had a problem with water. They [the sellers] helped us even though we were not sure of them. But as soon as we got this project we’ve got a lot of water. It is good and clean water, we really reduced the cost and we have enjoyed the water project here. Right now, gastric infections have decreased significantly because we now get fresh water to use when we cook our good food.”
End-user Mama Daudi
WeTu, Kenya
Situation: Kenyan entrepreneur WeTu provides a sustainable, accessible and efficient supply of drinking water in rural and peri-urban areas around Lake Victoria. WeTu operates from 8 hubs and uses a 4-step water purification system for up to 12,000 litres of drinking water per day.
The Susteq Solution: Our prepaid water ATM allows for a 24/7 purified water supply, independent of water kiosk opening hours and staff presence. In 2021, WeTu dispensed 2,4 million litres of water through 9 Susteq ATM’s serving about 1,300 people.
Advantages: End-users buy water using prepaid tokens. The tokens can be recharged via MPESA or by cash payments to the operator. This ATM system ensures there is no water loss or wastage, with automatic SMS alerts in case of technical problems. The use of prepaid meters with two taps allows more customers to be served at the same time.
Water Compass, Uganda
Situation: NGO Water Compass provides safe water in three water-stressed districts in Uganda – Gomba, Sembabule and Bukomansimbi. Sustainability of the water supply is a priority for Water Compass, which uses solar powered water pumps.
The Susteq Solution: 3 water points were equipped with 4 Susteq’s solar-powered prepaid ATM systems, ensuring sustainability.
Advantages: Water is always available, 24/7. The revenue collected is used to operate and maintain the water systems. Water Compass will also use this income to expand and upgrade its water services.
“We use a solar powered digital payment system [the Susteq Solution]. People receive an individual prepaid token that they can load credit onto. At any time during day and night they can come and collect water without having to disturb anyone to turn on the tap or to turn on a handpump. This system is reliable and residents are assured of constant water supply throughout the year.”