Sunass: maintenance of 5-year-old water meters would help reduce S/6 per month

The National Superintendence of Sanitation Services (Sunass) has proposed a project that proposes that the mechanical meters in the 50 provider companies (EP), with an installation age greater than five years, are verified every three years. This would avoid losing S/190 million in the change of meters due to the fact that maintenance would be promoted. In addition, users could save up to S/6 on their monthly fee.

In this way, it suggests a modification of the Quality Regulation for the Provision of Sanitation Services (Resolution No. 128-2022-SUNASS-CD) so that the utility companies take a sample from the meter park and, if they find overreporting due to above 5% of the cases, verify all the meters or determine the change of all.

With this regulatory proposal, the rate of investment would be optimized and would make it possible to close the gap in micrometering —which is currently estimated at 48 years— in just five years. Currently, 7% of the investment in meters is destined to expand the meter park, while 93% is destined to change them.

With the regulatory proposal that raises the sample verification, it would avoid losing S / 190 million in the change of meters, since maintenance would be promoted more than substitution.

What is a metrological verification unit?

It is a body recognized by the National Institute of Quality (Inacal) that is in charge of verifying the water meters. The UVMs are concentrated in Lima, since Sedapal, being the largest water company in the country, has 40% of the total potable water connections. It is important to note that the validation of claims for excessive charging or malfunction of your meter is the responsibility of the UVMs not linked to the PEs.