Using Information and Communication Technology to Enforce Non-Payment of Water Bills: The Case of Water Supply and Sanitation Authorities in Tanzania

Abstract

Sanitation and having access to clean water are human rights. To serve everyone, water and sanitation service providers must be able to run and maintain a profit. However, this capability is frequently jeopardized by missed or late water bill payments. The ability of utilities to provide appropriate service is directly impacted by non-payment, which also hinders the fulfillment of  human right regarding to water and sanitation services. In this study, a mechanism for enforcing prompt payment of water bills which utilize the Electricity Prepaid Metering System is designed. In order to put the designed mechanism into practice, a prototype application has been created. Through in-person interviews with system administrators, data about the Electricity Prepaid Metering System and Water Management Information System was gathered. The proposed enforcement mechanism was designed with the use of a Design Science Research technique. The findings indicate that people who owe unpaid water bills are automatically denied access to electricity services