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A smartphone-sized device is being used to monitor water pumps across Rwanda, making it easier to locate broken pumps and quicker to fix them.
 
Developed by Portland State University in the United States, one battery-powered device is installed on each pump. Its SIM card sends information on water flow and the general state of the system to a central server.
 
Although the prototype costs around US$500, its developers say this is a worthwhile investment considering that each pump costs around US$15,000.
 
By the end of the year, 200 devices are due to be installed in Rwanda, helping to improve water access by reducing system failures.