In several African countries, with the accelerated digital upgrade of urban water supply, smart water meter pilot projects are gradually becoming an important means for water companies to improve their metering management capabilities. The following is the implementation process for a Hexcell pilot project.
1, Project kick-off meeting
Project initiation and discussions with clients
The core content of the meeting included:
- Clarify the scope of the project (pilot area, number of users)
- Confirm the technical solution (NB-IoT / LoRa / AMR / AMI)
- Project Implementation Timeline
- Division of responsibilities (supplier / EPC / local power or water company)
- Data platform connection methods
- Installation and Acceptance Standards
2, Site Survey and Plan Refinement
Hexcecll engineers conducted on-site inspections in the pilot area:
- Pipe diameter confirmation (DN15–DN50 is common)
- Installation location accessibility check
- Signal coverage test (NB-IoT / LoRa)
- User type classification (residential / commercial / industrial)
- Feasibility assessment of replacing old table
3, Water Meter Installation and Bulk Deployment
The installation phase is the core execution link of the project:
Main process:
- Close the water supply valve
- Remove the old mechanical water meter
- Install a smart water meter (with valve control or remote transmission module)
- Verify the interface sealing
- Water flow test
Installation features:
- Mostly door-to-door installations by residents.
- Requires collaboration between a local team and engineers.
- Daily installation volume is typically driven by regional targets.
4, System Debugging and Data Deployment
After installation, the debugging phase will begin.
- Water meter and concentrator binding
- Data upload test (real-time/scheduled)
- User account system association
- Remote valve control test
- Abnormal data verification
5, On-site guidance and training by engineers
To ensure the long-term stable operation of the project, Hexcell engineers typically provide on-site support and inspection guidance.
The training content includes:
- Standard Installation Specifications
- Troubleshooting Methods
- Communication Signal Optimization
- Backend System Usage
- User Complaint Handling Process
6, Project Pilot Acceptance and Optimization
· Data accuracy spot checks
· Billing system verification
· User feedback collection
· Coverage and stability assessment
· Optimize the next phase of large-scale deployment plan
Conclusion
The successful progress of this African water meter pilot project not only demonstrates the efficient collaboration among all parties involved in the planning, implementation, system debugging, and technical training phases, but also lays a solid foundation for future large-scale smart water infrastructure development. In the future, as the demand for digital and refined management of urban water supply in Africa continues to increase, the water meter pilot project will gradually evolve towards large-scale deployment, remote meter reading, prepaid management, and integration with smart water platforms. For Hexcell, this is not only an opportunity to export its products, but also a crucial starting point for establishing long-term partnerships with local water authorities, engineering companies, and partners, and jointly participating in the upgrading of African infrastructure.
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