Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A large-scale installation of smart drinking water meters has begun in residential areas of Tashkent, according to the city’s water supply company Toshkent shahar suv ta’minoti. The project is being implemented in partnership with Uzsuvta’minot and French company Suez, as part of a presidential decree dated 18 November 2022.

The main goal of the initiative is to digitize the water supply system and introduce advanced technologies for monitoring and controlling water consumption. Traditional meters have often caused misunderstandings between suppliers and consumers due to delayed data collection and the lack of access for users to consumption information.

Following a successful pilot in the Shaykhantakhur district, full-scale deployment of the new devices will begin in the third quarter of this year in the Yangihayot district. Over the next five years, smart meters will be installed free of charge for 670,000 households. The costs will be covered by Toshkent shahar suv ta’minoti JSC.

The new meters are equipped with radio modules that transmit consumption data in real time and can detect leaks, technical failures, or tampering. All data is automatically integrated into a billing system, allowing consumers to track their usage through a personal online account and make payments via mobile apps.

As previously reported, the meters are produced by AKFA BUILD at the Technopark facility in collaboration with Austrian company Diehl Metering. The devices are branded as Osten and have been used in gas metering systems since 2020. In early 2021, Technopark announced an expansion into the production of electronic water meters.

The installation process does not require welding or complex plumbing work — only replacement of the old meters.

Residents only need to grant technicians access to their apartments. For any questions regarding the installation, they can contact temporary support offices being set up in local mahallas.

The manufacturer offers a five-year warranty on the meters. In case of malfunctions, repairs will be carried out free of charge under the service agreement.