Public utility solution providers have been implored to adopt IT systems to plug supply losses. Speaking during the second edition of the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Management Symposium being hosted by the Kenya Water Institute (KEWI) and themed ‘Closing the Last Mile SDG 6’, the National Bank of Kenya (NBK) MD Paul Russo advised stakeholders in the water supply sector to consider adopting IT based transmission monitoring systems.
Non-revenue water (NRW) is water that has been produced and is “lost” before it reaches the customer. Losses can be real losses or apparent losses. High levels of NRW are detrimental to the financial viability of water utilities.
(TOP: L-R – NBK Head of Change & Integration Frederick Kioko; KCB Group Regional Business Director & NBK MD Paul Russo; KEWI Ag. CEO Kennedy Riaga; and Water Secretary, Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Eng. S. A. O Alima, during the Non-Revenue Water Symposium in Mombasa).
Such systems featuring real time loss point alarms, Russo said will provide an effective interface with online revenue and billing management systems provided by financial service providers.
The NBK, he said, had pumped in more than Kshs 1 million in the NRW symposium as part of the Bank’s capacity building commitments.
“At NBK, we are committed to advancing partnerships with key stakeholders such as water supply companies in NRW management. Through our sponsorship for this symposium, we are sharing experiences on fiscal management competencies that we can jointly rollout to plug both revenue and non-revenue losses,” Russo said.
The symposium, brings together key players and partners within the water ecosystem and showcase cutting edge technologies that address NRW reduction.
Russo said: “NRW management is important and allows utilities to expand and improve service, enhance financial performance, make cities more attractive, increase climate resilience and reduce energy consumption. As such, we have set aside an affordable and flexible financing through our MajiKonnect program to finance Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Sector (WASH) sector players including SMES and Water Services Providers to improve access to water services.”
Russo added that NBK was keen to ensure sustainability in the WASH sector by facilitating achievement of operational sustainability by water service providers for a healthy environment and a stable society.
Last year, KEWI entered into collaboration with National Bank of Kenya as a strategic partner to implement WASH program with the aim of helping the country achieve SDG 6 – clean water and sanitation for all.
The collaboration includes areas in research and sanitation technology transfer areas, equipping of the KEWI water quality laboratories, support of KEWI corporate social responsibility activities, support to KEWI WASH programs and support of some short course programmes like Basic Plumbing Course and Water Governance.
Others include support to the KEWI Education Revolving Fund, Student Internship, Industrial attachment, Exchange and Internship programmes.
NBK is a subsidiary of KCB Group. Established in 1968 to boost Kenyans’ access to finance, it has grown to be one of the largest commercial banks in the country with a growing network of 85 branch outlets across the country, over 1,500 ATMs and electronic channels of Mobile and Internet Banking. In September 2019, the Bank became a subsidiary of KCB Group following a successful acquisition. NBK provides Corporate Banking, Business Banking, Retail Banking and Islamic Banking with an extensive portfolio of products and financial solutions tailored for the requirements of a broad spectrum of customer segments it serves.
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