A sustainable information system framework for the adoption of a smart water meter system

Abstract

Water utility providers continue to follow ‘traditional, manual or analogue’ water management solutions despite having witnessed several challenges. This research explored the reasons why water institutions in Nigeria fail to adopt an IoT-based Smart Water Meter System (SWMS) to improve the efficiency of water management for a sustainable future. The study sought to identify factors influencing the adoption of a SWMS, people’s perceptions about adopting a SWMS, how institutions can adopt a SWMS as part of their water management method, the role of government in facilitating and engaging water institutions to use a SWMS, existing practical evidence on the adoption of a SWMS by water utilities, smart water application technologies for water management, and what framework can be developed to adopt a SWMS. The interpretivist philosophy was selected as the study adopted qualitative research methodology and an embedded case study strategy to accomplish the aim and objectives of the research. The data collection comprised a literature review, documentation, and semi-structured interviews. The participants were purposefully selected based on their expertise in water management and being the most representative individual(s) from the water institution. Data from the interviews were collected from 11 experts employed by the Water Institution selected for this study. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings were categorised and presented thematically, bringing together and shedding light on the reasons for the slow adoption of SWMSs in Nigeria. Findings reveal that the selected Water Institution is constrained by numerous factors, including technological, organisational, environmental and economic aspects as well as a knowledge gap. These challenges include internet network failures in Nigeria, associated costs, a lack of service provider support to maintain a SWMS, poor electricity supply, limited government support, government water policies, security concerns around SWMSs, the lack of a SWMS framework and logistics, structural constraints and environmental challenges, and the lack of awareness and understanding of smart water metering (SWM), among others. These factors hinder the use of a SWMS among stakeholders, resulting in the reasons behind slow SWMS adoption. A Smart Water Meter System Framework and recommendations are proposed to motivate the widespread adoption of smart water meter systems for the sustainable conservation of water resources in water institutions in Nigeria. This framework can be used to improve and support existing IS/IT theories, particularly in developing countries facing similar challenges to Nigeria. Three new constructs were added to the theory used, namely economic factors, a knowledge gap among stakeholders in terms of using a SWMS, and trialability, that is, the need to conduct a pilot study with the new system before large-scale adoption is considered. The long-term benefits of SWMS adoption can significantly benefit society in future, both environmentally and economically. Furthermore, this research offers valuable insights for the Nigerian government and developing countries facing similar challenges to create clear stringent water policies and regulations in response to issues such as water scarcity, demand management, water efficiency and drought relief plans, while water use reduction targets should promote smart water meter system adoption.