The unpopular decision to install prepaid water meters in Soweto is yielding dividends - more than R800-million - according to Johannesburg Water, an entity of the City of Joburg.
But millions of litres of water still go to waste every month in large parts of the township. About 40% of water supplied to Soweto went to waste before the intervention in 2004.
As it is, in Jabulani, Tladi, Molapo, Jabavu, Moroka, Phiri, Senaoane, Dube, Orlando West, Mofolo and portions of Dlamini and Tshiawelo, about 1330737kL of water is lost monthly. This is apparently down from 1726706kL, before prepaid meters were installed.
The average monthly loss of water in Meadowlands and other parts of Dube and Orlando West is 1476592kL, down from 1726706kL.
The highest losses were attributed to aging infrastructure, which was addressed by retrofitting internal plumbing leaks and secondary mains, said Joburg Water spokesman Eleanor Mavimbela.
But Klipspruit, Klipspruit West, Kliptown, Pimville, Eldorado Park, Eldorado Park Estates and Nancefield have not been affected by the intervention of the city's water infrastructure upgrade.
When the city decided to install water meters in Phiri, Soweto, in 2004, the move led to violent protests. The matter landed in the Johannesburg High Court, Supreme Court of Appeal and eventually the Constitutional Court.
The city introduced pre-paid meters as part of its R800-million infrastructure upgrade called Operation Gcin'amanzi.
"For Soweto, water saved since the project started in areas of intervention as of 2013-2014 amounts to R880-million - cumulative - and averages 25283605kL per annum," said Mavimbela.
This saving is a drastic turnaround of fortunes for the city, which lost more than R800-million in potential water revenue in the 2011-2012 financial year due to technical and non-technical losses.
The city claims its intervention has reduced monthly household consumption from 66kL to 12kL.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
