Illegal connections are a major drain on African water utilities. In Kenya, illegal connections and unbilled customers cost water companies Sh15.9 billion annually. In Malawi, water theft is a key contributor to non-revenue water levels that exceed 50% in some areas. The problem is widespread. The cost is enormous.
Traditional mechanical meters cannot detect illegal connections. A bypass pipe, a tampered register, or reversed flow — these go completely unnoticed. Your utility delivers water but never bills for it. And hiring more security staff only catches a fraction of offenders.
How can an STS prepaid water meter stop illegal connections?
The STS Prepaid Water Meter from TY Metering is engineered with multiple layers of anti-tamper protection that make illegal connections virtually impossible to profit from.
First, the STS token system. Customers cannot access water without a valid 20-digit token. There is no way to bypass the meter — the integrated valve only opens when credit is available. No credit, no water. A simple bypass pipe will not work because the meter controls the flow path.
Second, tamper detection. The meter logs every tamper attempt: magnetic field attacks, reverse flow, and physical opening. These events are stored and can be reviewed during inspection. If a customer attempts to bypass the meter, the system records it.
Third, automated shut-off. Unlike mechanical meters that continue running even when disconnected, the STS valve physically closes when tampering is detected. Water stops until a technician investigates and resets the system.
Fourth, real consumption data. For utilities with optional IoT connectivity (LoRa/NB-IoT), consumption patterns can be monitored remotely. Zero consumption on a property that should be active? Continuous flow during hours when no one is home? The system flags anomalies for investigation.
In Zimbabwe, residents who once feared prepaid meters as a “trick” now say: “We don’t want to go back to the old system” . They have seen their bills drop by up to 36% — not because rates changed, but because illegal connections were eliminated and actual consumption was measured accurately.
Why choose TY Metering? We are the manufacturer. Our STS Prepaid Water Meter includes magnetic detection, reverse flow detection, and tamper logging as standard features. IP68-rated housing protects against physical attacks. We provide tamper event review tools for your inspection teams. Bulk orders with predictable lead times and full certification documentation.
📩 Contact us to learn how the STS Prepaid Water Meter can transform your water network.
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