Prepay at the Tap

The Innovation

SWN’s prepaid meters integrate with mobile money via a short USSD code so credit posts instantly to a customer’s meter, eliminating cash handling and paper billing. The same prepay logic also powers our remote kiosks: consumers top up a personal RFID tag (via the eWater app) and vend water at standposts—delivering the same benefits as meters on household connections.

Why it Matters

Prepayment strengthens station economics by improving collections and smoothing cash flow, which supports operations and routine maintenance. It also reduces administrative workload and cash risk while giving customers clear visibility into usage and spend.

How it Works

Customers purchase credit through mobile money; the balance syncs to the meter and water flows until the balance is low. Automated prompts (for example, low-balance alerts) nudge timely top-ups, avoiding arrears and disconnect–reconnect cycles. For kiosks, customers load credit to RFID tags and tap to vend; transactions reconcile digitally.

Local Adaptations

India does not yet offer direct-piped household connections. Prepaid RFID cards at kiosks provide similar advantages—faster service, accurate revenue tracking, and no post-purchase collections.

Why it Works

• Convenience: pay anytime via mobile money; no trip to a station office
• Efficiency: removes manual billing; reduces non-revenue water tied to failed collections
• Sustainability: steadier cash flow underwrites O&M for reliable service
• Customer control: real-time balance and consumption visibility

Extending the Prepay Innovation through Partners

Beyond SWN’s own systems, partners can plug into our prepaid and reconciliation platform rather than build their own. With World Vision, Project Maji, and Easy Water for Everyone, we install mobile-money-enabled prepaid meters on their standposts and household connections. Payments post instantly; SWN’s platform cross-checks transactions and reimburses each partner’s bank account after automated validation—streamlining collections, cutting admin time, and creating transparent, auditable money flows.

Partner in Action

With Project Maji, SWN is co-developing a district program: Project Maji focuses on smaller villages while SWN covers peri-urban and small towns. Joint procurement (pipes, tanks, solar components) reduces costs; SWN enables prepaid and mobile-money payments on selected systems.

On the Ground: Adawso Station Operator Benjamin (The Captain)

Benjamin grew up in Adawso. At 23, he freely admits he knew nothing about running a safe water station—but he understood how vital safe water was. Until SWN opened the station in 2017, families fetched river water that was contaminated, with risks from snakes and, at night, prowlers. SWN trained him to operate the system and support customers, including helping households manage prepaid meters. Today, more than 500 homes in Adawso are directly connected. “The meters are very convenient,” the Captain says, “and easy to maintain, which ensures families can access safe water at home 24/7, 365 days a year.”