DEMAND MANAGEMENT Customer
Metering – the Samoa Experience
Apia Urban Supply
1995 – 2002
SAMOA ISLANDS



Volcanic – 2 main islands
Rainfall 2100-7000mm (wet
period)
Population – 175,000 (2001
Census)
SAMOA WATER AUTHORITY

Corporatized 1994
Move towards financial independence
Water Supply – 82% popn (17000 customers)

Treatment Plants – 3

Raw Water systems

Boreholes



O & M Expenditure




$7 m/yr
Community schemes – approx 15%
No water supply – less than 5% popn.
ISP, EU projects
Scope of Case Study



Apia Urban Area
1995 – limited metering
1999 – A.W.S.C.P


Full scale metering program
About 4000 meters
Background - APIA URBAN AREA




Pop = approx 38,000
Incomes = $2400 - $80,000 / annum
Central Business District
Excessive demands



Approx – 900 l/c/d (pre-metering 1999)
Water is free, from God, plentiful
Treated and Raw supply (80% mixed in 1999)


Low pressures, demand exceed production treated
Inaccurate maps
DEMAND MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES


No Formal Demand Management Strategy
Metering and Tariff




Treated supply
Progressive $0.12/m3/d - $1.40/m3/d
Leak Detection
Improving Operation & Maintenance
HOW TO METER APIA ?

Isolate areas to be supplied by treated water




Network modifications – valves, re-route pipes
Meter target area
Extend area – when demand reduction allows
Continue until 100% coverage
METERING PROCESS

Step 1 – Isolate Target Area


Step 2 – Awareness & Acceptance





Treated and sufficient quantity
Media campaign
Village groups consultations
Matai consultation (advisory
committee)
Disconnect supply
Step 3 – Installation & Billing


Pre-fabrication at workshop
3 month grace period


Monthly reading
Counselling & assistance
RESULTS & LESSONS LEARNT

Reduction of Demand





Approx 350l/c/d (2002)
Extend Treated water coverage to 80%
Community Awareness of metering
Consultation using traditional hierarchy (matai)
Above-ground meters
FURTHER ACTIONS

Demand Management Strategy



UFW – theft, illegal connections
System Performance – data
Asset Mgt Strategy
O&M improvements
 Leak Detection
 Disaster (Drought) mgt
 Mapping
New Tariff Structure (proposal)


O&M simple cost recovery

2 bands rather than logarithmic

5 year + review

‘free’ portion – 0.5m3/d
Billing Process

Time and labour intensive



Review of Progress



Customer survey
Metering records - consumption
Extension of treated water supply
CHALLENGES IN DEMAND
MANAGEMENT FOR SWA






Influx of 3500 initially (total 6000) meters – EURWSP
Doubling of system assets – EURWSP
New Computerised Asset Management System
Successful implementation of new Tariff Structure (awaiting
Cabinet approval) and impact on consumption
Translating results of progress review into actions for
improvement
Limited local Technical expertise (only 5 engineers in SWA)
Thank you