Optimising Harare’s Water Dissemination Network: Development of an IoT-Driven Leak Monitoring System for Sustainable Urban Water Management

Water scarcity persists as a pressing issue in Harare, exacerbated by undetected leaks within the municipal water distribution networks, which significantly contribute to non-revenue water (NRW) losses. A considerable volume of water fails to reach end-users due to these inefficiencies, intensifying supply shortages and elevating operational expenditures for water utility providers. These challenges stem primarily from deteriorating infrastructure, reliance on conventional leak detection methodologies, and inadequate management systems. As noted by Dinar (2024), effective water resource management remains a critical concern, particularly in regions facing water deficits amid escalating demand for potable water. This research project proposes the development of an IoT-enabled real-time water leakage detection system to optimise monitoring capabilities and mitigate NRW losses. The system architecture incorporates a network of sensors, microcontrollers, and IoT communication frameworks to facilitate continuous, real-time data acquisition. Strategically positioned sensors will monitor key hydraulic parameters, including flow rate, pressure, and water levels, with collected data transmitted to a cloud-based analytical platform. A dedicated web interface will be implemented to deliver instantaneous leakage alerts, dynamic graphical representations, and comprehensive diagnostic reports, thereby enabling preemptive maintenance interventions and minimising water loss. The system's efficacy will be empirically validated through prototype testing, ensuring precise leak localisation and rapid response mechanisms. In this context, the proposed method will reduce the non-revenue water in Harare by at least 20% within a year of deployment, as well as reduce the response time to leaks by at least 50%. Ultimately, this initiative aims to advance water conservation efforts, improve operational efficiency, and promote sustainable water management practices that can be deployed to large consumers of fresh water, such as industrial complexes