Case Study
Smart Water Metering | Mazoli Complex, Cape Town
Water Utility Solutions (WUS) was approached to design and implement an individual smart water metering solution for a sectional title complex operating without sub-meters – and without compliance.
Project Type: Sectional Title Smart Water Metering
Location: Cape Town
Meters Installed: 22 Smart Water Meters
Technology Used: Kamstrup MULTICAL® 21
Outcome: Full compliance achieved, PQ-based billing replaced with fair consumption-based billing
The Challenge: No Individual Metering and Non-Compliance with City of Cape Town Water By-laws
Mazoli Complex had no individual water meters installed across its units. Without sub-meters in place, the property was non-compliant with the City of Cape Town’s water metering requirements, and residents had no visibility into their own water consumption.
Water costs were recovered through Participation Quotas (PQ), a method that divides the shared municipal account across residents based on a predetermined formula rather than actual usage. In practice, this meant residents were paying a share of a collective bill, with no relationship to how much water each unit actually consumed.
This created an environment where high-consumption units went unidentified, low-consumption residents effectively subsidised their neighbours, and the body corporate had no data to fall back on when billing disputes arose.
The Solution: Individual Smart Water Metering for Every Unit
WUS designed and implemented a complete smart water metering solution tailored to the complex’s layout and compliance requirements. The scope of work included:
- Installing 22 individual smart water meters, one per unit, across the entire complex.
- Bringing the property into full compliance with the City of Cape Town’s water metering by-laws.
- Connecting each meter to a remote metering platform that automatically records each owner’s consumption.
- Enabling accurate, consumption-based billing using real-time meter data in place of the previous PQ recovery method.
The solution gives every unit owner direct visibility into their own water usage while significantly reducing the administrative burden on the body corporate.
22 Smart Water Meters Installed
Full Compliance Achieved
100% Remote Data Collection
The Results: Fair Billing, Full Compliance, and Greater Accountability
Mazoli Complex now operates with a modern, compliant water metering system that reflects the actual consumption of every individual unit.
The transition from PQ-based recovery to individual billing has had a meaningful impact across the complex. Residents who previously paid a shared portion of the municipal account – regardless of whether they used more or less water than their neighbours – are now billed only for what they consume. This restores fairness to the billing process and gives residents a direct financial reason to manage their usage responsibly.
For the body corporate, the change is equally significant. Access to accurate, independently recorded consumption data provides a transparent and defensible basis for billing, removing the ambiguity that PQ-based systems inevitably create. Billing disputes become easier to resolve, and the administrative effort associated with manual readings and estimated charges is eliminated.
The remote metering platform also provides ongoing value beyond billing accuracy. Consumption data can be monitored over time, enabling the body corporate to identify unusual usage patterns that may indicate a leak or a metering anomaly, and to act on that information before it translates into a larger problem.
Why This Matters to Property Managers and Body Corporates
- Fair, consumption-based billing – Every resident pays only for the water they use, with no cross-subsidisation of high-usage units.
- Full Compliance – Full compliance with the City of Cape Town’s water metering requirements, removing the body corporate’s regulatory exposure.
- Remote Meter Readings – Eliminates the need for manual reads, reducing both cost and the risk of human error.
- Increased Resident Accountability – Direct visibility into individual usage encourages more responsible water consumption across the complex.
- A Transparent, Defensible Billing Process – Reduces disputes and supports a better relationship between the body corporate and residents.
Kamstrup MULTICAL® 21
The Kamstrup MULTICAL® 21 is a state-of-the-art smart water meter designed for a wide range of applications, including households and small commercial buildings. It uses ultrasonic flow measurement, ensuring accuracy and longevity. The MULTICAL® 21 offers wireless communication, is fully waterproof (IP68), and has a battery life of up to 16 years. Ideal for remote monitoring and accurate consumption tracking.
Key Benefits:
Hourly Usage Tracking: See exactly how much water you use each hour.
Remote Monitoring: Read your meter wirelessly or via a wired connection — no need to visit the meter.
Smart Alerts: Get notifications for leaks, bursts, tampering, low battery, or unusual temperatures.
Fast Updates: Display refreshes every 32 seconds, keeping your data current.
Waterproof & Durable: Fully sealed to withstand harsh conditions (IP68 rated).
Detects Small Leaks: Can spot even very low water flows, from just 2 liters per hour.
Long Battery Life: Up to 16 years before needing a replacement.
20mm Meter | Estimate Retail Cost: R 2,587
(Costs excluding VAT & Installation)
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