- In the town of Lekhnath in western Nepal a GeoViewer asset management system has been installed allowing the Water Users Committee to effectively manage and monitor their resources, plan maintenance and repairs, and keep track of asset performance in real-time.
- The Lekhnath utility meter-readers visited nearly 16,000 customers and geo-positioned every meter, including the meter account number. This allows the asset management system to be linked to the utility's billing system.
- The asset management system has drastically cut the time it takes to address payment, water quality, pipe leakage, and meter issues,” Pavitra Dhungana Gautam, Meter Reader, Lekhnath Water Supply User Committee
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Nepal are working together to supply water and sanitation services to small towns in Nepal.
In the town of Lekhnath in western Nepal a GeoViewer asset management system has been installed allowing the Water Users Committee to effectively manage and monitor their resources, plan maintenance and repairs, and keep track of asset performance in real-time.
This asset management system has been financed by High-Level Technology Fund managed that brings in innovative and digital technologies into ADB projects.
Transcript
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Nepal are working together to supply water and sanitation services to small towns in Nepal.
In the town of Lekhnath in western Nepal a GeoViewer asset management system has been installed allowing the Water Users Committee to effectively manage and monitor their resources, plan maintenance and repairs, and keep track of asset performance in real-time.
This asset management system has been financed by High-Level Technology Fund managed that brings in innovative and digital technologies into ADB projects.
The Asian Development Bank finances a lot of water infrastructure. And this water infrastructure needs to be operated and maintained in order to ensure the sustainability. Asset Management Systems play a pivotal role in ensuring the sustainability of water assets.
Geoffrey Wilson
Senior Water Resources Specialist
Asian Development Bank
In the Asset Management System all water assets like pipe mains, service connections, valves, hydrants, tanks and customer meters are geopositioned, maintaining connectivity between the assets. The features of the assets are also retained in the database like pipe diameter, material, installed date as well as any bursts or leak repairs.
The Lekhnath utility meter-readers visited nearly 16,000 customers and geo-positioned every meter, including the meter account number. This allows the asset management system to be linked to the utility's billing system.
Operation and maintenance work orders for field crews can be sent out and time and materials are tracked. If a pipe has to be isolated for maintenance, the system identifies which valves need to be closed.
Prior to the introduction of the system, it was challenging to pinpoint the exact location, sizes of pipes for maintenance purposes. Whenever personnel changed, the new staff would not know where to find the pipes. Thanks to this technology, staff can now monitor the location and condition of assets in real-time and provide improved services.
Murari Sharma
Chairperson
Lekhnath Water Supply User Committee
A cloud based SCADA system (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) has also been installed to monitor tank levels.
Another feature of GeoViewer is the Customer App, allowing customers to report issues from their smart phones, such as a pipe leak or burst or meter fault, with the accurate location and the option to upload a photo.
So this system actually helps the utility manager/operator to take firm decisions, evidence-based decisions for their future planning, making strategies for the financing, for the investment, replacement, rehabilitation strategies.
Shiva Paudel
Urban Development Specialist
Asian Development Bank
The launch of the asset management system with support from ADB in Lekhnath is a pilot initiative in Nepal. This can be further replicated in other water supply user committees throughout the country at a larger scale.
Ramakanta Duwadi
Director General
DWSSM
The staff are now well-versed in technology and are efficiently handling customer complaints by uploading them into the system. This has drastically cut the time it takes to address payment, water quality, pipe leakage, and meter issues. As a result, consumers now have access to improved and reliable water services than ever before.
