The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has introduced a new billing and payment system. It is being piloted in the Tema metropolis.

The areas include all the communities in Tema, Kpone, Ashaiman, Spintex, Baatsonaa, Sakumono, Kpong, Akuse, Tema New Town, and surrounding areas.

The new billing and payment system will eventually be scaled up to cover the whole country upon successful implementation at the Tema Region.

A statement signed by the Head of Public Relations and Communications, Stanley Martey, said: “With effect from 1st June, 2016, GWCL meter readers will be capturing customer consumption data with a hand-held android device equipped with a software, which already has customers’ data comprising the following: customer name, customer phone number, customer’s last captured consumption data, customer’s geographical location and other relevant information”.

“The system will calculate customers’ water consumption and automatically send them their corresponding bill via text message (SMS) and or e-mail. Customers are, therefore, required to make available to GWCL, two reliable cell phone numbers each, and email addresses if possible, to receive their bills.

“Once customers receive their bills via the text message and or e-mail, they are to make payment by purchasing a “Ghana Water” payment scratch card from any GWCL collection or customer service point, authorised vendors or designated points within the communities and pay their water bills”.

The statement added that “Comprehensive GPS-based monitoring system has been put in place to check all malpractices against the Ghana Water Company Limited, including illegal connections, meter by-passes etc”.