Bill every tenant for the water they use, automatically.
The Hydrolink Hub meters up to six units, bills each tenant from their own consumption and collects through M-Pesa. Nobody reads a meter and nobody argues over an estimate.
- Delivery
- 1 to 2 weeks
- Warranty
- 12 months
- Mobile network
- Works on a 2G signal
How it works
Typically 1 to 2 weeks from order to a live system.
-
01
We assess your property.
A site assessment plans the installation unit by unit.
-
02
We install the hub.
The hub, sensors and valves are fitted and configured for every unit.
-
03
Tenants pay by M-Pesa.
Paybill 4320885, with the unit name as the account number.
-
04
You track and withdraw.
Watch consumption and collections, and withdraw to M-Pesa or bank whenever you like.
Postpay or prepay
The same hub runs either model, and you can run both in one building.
Postpay: a monthly invoice
- Consumption is measured continuously for each unit.
- Usage is calculated automatically and invoices are generated on the billing date you set.
- Tenants receive their invoice by SMS or WhatsApp.
- Payments go into your landlord wallet.
- You withdraw to M-Pesa or bank at any time.
The tenant's display shows daily and monthly consumption in litres.
Prepay: credit first
- Tenants buy water credit whenever they like.
- The credit loads to their unit automatically, and consumption is deducted from it.
- A low-balance SMS warns them before supply stops.
- At zero, supply disconnects. When they pay, it reconnects immediately.
- The display on the hub shows each tenant their balance.
Because supply stops when the credit runs out, there is no debt to chase.
Postpay suits tenants you trust to pay a monthly bill. Prepay suits buildings where arrears are the problem. Many landlords will want one or the other, and some will want both.
How the Hub compares
Most smart meters send small readings now and then over a low-power radio. That suits a utility that only needs an occasional reading. A landlord needs live data, control of supply and payment in one place, so the Hub is built differently.
| Feature | Hydrolink Hub | NB-IoT smart meters | LoRaWAN smart meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| How fresh the data is | Live, continuously | Periodic, often once a day | Periodic |
| What powers it | Mains, with a rechargeable backup | A non-rechargeable battery | A non-rechargeable battery |
| When the battery runs out | There are no field batteries to replace | Replace the meter | Replace the meter |
| Cutting off or restoring supply | Instantly | Queued until the meter next wakes | Only in a limited receive window |
| Prepay with automatic cut-off | Enforced in real time | Weak, enforcement is delayed | Weak, enforcement is delayed |
| Without internet | Keeps storing, billing and controlling locally | Needs a cellular link | Needs a gateway link |
| Extra infrastructure | None beyond the hub | An operator SIM and data plan | A gateway and a network server |
| Billing and payment | Built in: M-Pesa, bank and wallet | Metering only, billing is bolt-on | Metering only, billing is bolt-on |
| Display for tenants | On the hub, per unit | On the meter face only | On the meter face only |
| Cost for six units | One shared hub and connection | 6 radios, 6 SIMs and 6 batteries | 6 nodes and a shared gateway |
Where those meters still make sense. For utility-scale reading, where you only need an occasional value and never need to control supply, low-power radios are a reasonable fit. We are not claiming otherwise.
No cards to buy or load. Many prepaid meters rely on cards that tenants have to buy, load and carry. The Hub works from the tenant's phone: they pay by M-Pesa and the credit loads to their unit.
Prices
Each hub serves up to 6 houses. Cash prices in KES, excluding VAT.
| Model | What it includes | Excl. VAT | Incl. 16% VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postpay Hub |
|
KES 95,748 | KES 111,067.68 |
| Prepay Hub |
|
KES 124,272 | KES 144,155.52 |
Before you buy
The practical questions, answered plainly.
How do tenants pay?
By M-Pesa Paybill 4320885, using their house or unit name, exactly as you assign it, as the account number.
What happens when the power or internet goes down?
The hub has a rechargeable battery (a UPS) that keeps it running for up to two weeks. It keeps storing data, billing and controlling supply without internet, and syncs to the cloud when the connection returns. A 2G signal is enough for that.
How long does it take?
Installation typically takes 1 to 2 weeks from order to a live system: site assessment, installation and commissioning are included.
Are there ongoing costs after I buy?
Yes. The platform runs on a service fee worked out on the water consumed. It covers hosting, remote monitoring, M-Pesa reconciliation, SMS alerts and support. The rate is in our Terms of Service, so there are no surprises after you buy.
What does the warranty cover?
Hydrolink hardware is warranted against manufacturing defects for 12 months from the date of installation. It does not cover damage caused by misuse, power surges, flooding or unauthorised tampering.
Tell us about your property.
Say how many units you have and whether you want postpay, prepay or a mix. We reply within 24 hours with a recommendation and a quote.
- Phone
- +254 728 315 752
- info@hydrolinkafrica.com
- Office
- Westlands Commercial Center, Nairobi, Westlands
- Hours
- Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Sunday: Closed