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To: Right to Water <right-to-water@lists.iatp.org>
From: svarghese@iatp.org
Date: 2007-12-06 13:35:48
Subject: Fw: Cape Town invents new mechanism to cut water off, in the poorest neighborhoods
From: Maj Fiil [mfiil@fwwatch.org]
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 9:30 AM The City of Cape Town has invented a new metering system that cuts
residents off every day if they try to use more water than the city
allows them to use. These meters are installed only in the poorest
neighborhoods and give residents no recourse when they are unable to use
water. Notice that the city very clearly distinguishes these meters from
prepaid water meters - but that's exactly what they are. Again
preventing the poorest from accessing water. Lets see how long the
senior managers are able to live with this system! I know SAMWU is
watching this development closely - they may be able to share more
information on the list. Maj, FWW South Africa: New Water Management System in Cape BuaNews (Tshwane) 5 December 2007 Cape Town The City of Cape Town is introducing a new water demand management
system for its residents. It consists of a water management device, which is installed in
residents' houses, and a central control team in the City administration
that regulates the functioning of these devices with the help of a
computer set up. "This system will help our customers to save water and to manage their
monthly water bills, and it will help the city to manage debt," the city
council said. It will also help residents to identify any leaks and have them fixed,
instead of running up a huge water bill and then being unable to pay. The water management device measures out a specific supply of water on a
daily basis, at the pressure and flow rate to which households have
become accustomed. It allows residents to receive their free 6 kilolitre portion of water
per month, and it allows them to receive an additional amount according
to what they commit to paying. The device has been set to deliver an average of 350 litres per day or
10.62kl per month (which includes the free 6kl). At this consumption rate, a household's monthly water and sewerage bill
will normally be R30. Those residents registered on the city's database of poorer households
get a R30 indigent grant. "Should residents require more water they can commit to pay for that
additional water, and the water management device will then be set to a
higher maximum flow," said the council. "It must be emphasised that this is not the same thing as a pre-paid
water meter. This device guarantees a basic daily water supply." The water management device is set to switch on at a fixed time every
morning and will only switch off once the household has used its set
quota of water for the day. If households use less than their quota in a day the amount not used
will be carried over to the next day. For example, if only 250 litres is
used in one day, the balance of 100 litres will be carried over to the
next day giving a total of 450 litres for that day. Any unused water quota in one month will not be carried over into the
next month, however. It is illegal for anyone to tamper with the device, and if they do it
will automatically shut off. City officials will have to come out and
reinstate the water supply and will issue spot fines. If leaks are identified on a property, the City will come out and fix
the leaks free of charge on a once-off basis. So far the City has repaired leaks and installed water management
devices in about 4000 houses. We intend to install these devices in all newly built homes, and
established residents can also apply to have them installed, by calling
the city's water use management offices on (021) 761 0989. The senior management of the city's water department are also having
these devices installed in their own homes. "We will replace the current 'trickle system' used for debt management
with these devices," said the council. "As a further incentive for people registered on our indigency database
to use water responsibly, the City will write off any arrears caused by
water leaks if they remain within their quota and pay for any extra
water use for a sustained period of 6 months. "So far we have written off R55 million under this scheme." http://allafrica.com/stories/200712050113.html
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