Chennai Metrowater to Expand Smart Water Metering Across the City

Chennai Metrowater is preparing to significantly scale up its smart water metering programme, signalling a major shift in how urban water consumption is monitored and managed across the city. The civic utility plans to install smart water meters in nearly one lakh buildings as part of its broader strategy to promote efficient water use, strengthen demand-side management and improve overall operational efficiency.

The project, with an estimated cost of about ₹392.59 crore, will be implemented under the hybrid annuity model. It will primarily focus on water-intensive consumers, including commercial establishments, industrial units, multi-storeyed residential complexes and individual houses constructed on plots measuring more than 2,500 sq ft. By targeting high-consumption categories, Metrowater aims to bring greater transparency and accountability into water usage patterns.

The smart metering initiative was first announced in the 2024–25 Budget but witnessed delays due to the preparation of a detailed project report, the evaluation of advanced meter technologies and the completion of the tendering process. Officials noted that these steps were essential to ensure the system’s reliability and long-term scalability before a citywide rollout.

At present, smart water meters have already been installed in about 22,000 buildings across Chennai. The next phase will expand coverage substantially, using Internet of Things-enabled meters capable of capturing real-time consumption data. This technology will allow Metrowater to generate accurate monthly bills based strictly on actual usage, reducing estimation-related errors and customer grievances.

Beyond billing accuracy, the project is expected to address a long-standing challenge in urban water supply, the issue of non-revenue water. Continuous monitoring will help identify leakages, unauthorised connections and unusual consumption trends, enabling quicker corrective action and reducing distribution losses.

The initiative has also prompted feedback from residents’ associations, some of which have stressed the need to upgrade water supply and sewerage infrastructure alongside the installation of smart meters. Metrowater officials, however, maintain that the project is a critical step towards modernising Chennai’s water management framework and ensuring long-term sustainability in the face of growing urban demand.