New Water Management System in 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.” - BuaNews