By Staff Reporter
Harare residents with prepaid water meters are now facing unexpected charges as air trapped in the city’s aging water network spins meters without delivering water, city officials confirmed in a recent statement.
The City of Harare and Helcraw Water explained that both prepaid and conventional meters use impellers—small rotating parts that measure water flow by spinning as fluid passes. However, these meters cannot always distinguish between water and compressed air. Under certain conditions, air moving through pipes can cause the impeller to register false consumption, depleting prepaid balances even when only air flows from taps.
This issue arises mainly due to disruptions in the water system, such as pipeline bursts, repairs, pipe replacements, and intermittent supply—common challenges in Harare’s strained network. Trapped air, pushed through pipes when water supply resumes, causes “apparent consumption,” leading to phantom deductions from customers’ prepaid units.
The city acknowledged a technological gap: current meters cannot fully filter out air under abnormal conditions. Officials stressed that while minor amounts of air do not affect readings, large surges can. They also noted that these meters represent the best available technology globally, with ongoing research into improved systems that remain affordable for both the city and residents.
To mitigate losses, residents are advised to close taps immediately when only air flows, to avoid unnecessary meter rotations. Prompt reporting of such incidents will help technical teams address trapped air safely.
The city is also launching a program to install combination air valves and pressure relief devices at key points in the network. These valves are designed to expel trapped air during maintenance and normal operations, stabilizing pressure and improving meter accuracy by preventing air from reaching household meters.
While the statement reinforces the city’s commitment to reliable service, it highlights the challenge of maintaining trust. Prepaid meters were intended to provide clarity and control, but the air issue undermines this promise. Officials’ openness about the problem marks progress, but restoring confidence depends on effective implementation of repairs and new infrastructure to stop residents from paying for invisible air.
