BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Brunei is expected to introduce prepaid water meters this year to curb the high water usage in the country.

Brunei's Minister of Development Hj Suhaimi said the introduction of prepaid water meters is hoped to reduce waste of water in the sultanate.

"The use of clean water in Brunei is still the highest in Association of Southeast Asian Nations at 380 liters per person a day," said the minister during Monday's Legislative Council meeting.

Brunei's water consumption of 380 liters per person a day was higher than Malaysia's 210 liters per person a day and Singapore's 150 liters per person a day.

"With regards to this, the Ministry of Development will implement initiatives that are expected to help reduce water wastage like the introduction of the Unified Smart Metering Solutions," he said.

He said the prepaid metering system is going to be introduced in stages.

"This change to the water tariff system will be implemented at a suitable time to ensure that it will not cause undesired difficulties and burden to the public, especially to low income families," he said. Enditem