With a population of 17 million, Kinshasa is one of the most dynamic cities in Africa. It joins Cairo and Lagos as one of the three largest urban centers on the continent. Ensuring access to essential drinking water and sanitation services for all Kinshasa residents is central to the strategy of the DRC government and Regideso SA.
With the support of the World Bank Group, in partnership with VSi Afrique and on behalf of the Water Project Implementation Unit, Veolia's Engineering & Consulting teams have just completed a door-to-door commercial census of current and potential REGIDESO customers throughout the city, as part of the PDMRUK project.
This project, which mobilized around a hundred field surveyors for over a year, represents a strategic lever for REGIDESO: it strengthens commercial operations and reduces volumes of Non-Revenue Water (NRW). By boosting sales to contribute to the financial balance of the utility, the initiative also aims to increase the service rate where distribution networks are already in place.
Key figures and findings from the census:
- 430,000 surveys conducted using a web/mobile application
- 265,000 connections inventoried and geolocated (commercial cadastre under QGIS)
- 133,000 potential customers identified in direct proximity to distribution networks
- 32,000 terminated customers willing to negotiate for a new subscription
- More than half of the connections installed without a meter
- 70% of subscribers billed on a flat-rate or estimated basis
- 15,000 meters out of service and 50,000 meters more than 10 years old
- 9,000 anomalies and frauds detected
Beyond the figures and findings, this census marks the beginning of REGIDESO's sustainable transformation. The goal is to consolidate operational and financial performance, guarantee access to water, improve the living environment of Kinshasa residents, and reduce health risks, especially in disadvantaged neighborhoods.