Malawi's Water Boards Bleed Billions: The High Cost of Non-Revenue Water

Malawi's water boards are losing billions of kwacha due to non-revenue water (NRW), a phenomenon where treated water is lost or unaccounted for. The latest government report reveals that NRW averaged 35.3% in 2024, resulting in lost revenue of between K66 billion and K70 billion.



The report highlights that none of the five water boards met the internationally recommended level of 25% NRW, with some registering as high as 50%. The Blantyre Water Board (BWB) recorded the highest NRW at 50%, followed by the Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) at 35.8%.


The main causes of NRW include physical leakages, aging pipes, poor maintenance, and inaccurate billing and meter readings. The report notes that other boards are implementing measures to reduce NRW, such as the District Metered Area Management System.


Financial expert Brian Kampanje warns that NRW has severe consequences, including forcing water boards to rely on few customers who are charged higher tariffs. This defeats the notion that water is a basic human right. NRW also inhibits organic growth, as water boards make losses and have no surplus to invest in new systems.


Consumers Association of Malawi executive director John Kapito adds that consumers are forced to carry the burden of NRW, as water tariff hikes are often implemented to compensate for the losses.


The Ministry of Water and Sanitation acknowledges the issue, but notes that individual water boards may have different challenges and strategies. BWB chief executive officer Robert Hanjahanja attributes the board's high NRW to aging infrastructure, but notes that a $150 million World Bank project is underway to overhaul the infrastructure.

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