It is for this reason that the municipality is taking a tough stance towards customers who continue to use water illegally.
Illegal water connections not only result in the unnecessary loss of water and costs to the municipality, but are a violation to the rights of other residents.
A farmer is facing legal charges after an unlawful, underground water pipe connected to the municipality’s water supply network was discovered. The illegal connection resulted in damages to a 400mm pipe supplying water to the Germiston reservoir in Dawn Park. As a result, residents in that area were without water for three consecutive days.
Offenders found with unmetered water supply due to illegal connections will be liable to a penalty as well as additional charges to cover the costs incurred due to the damage caused to the network or connections.
“Any form of theft is condemned by the municipality. We call upon customers who are illegally connected to the network to come forward and rectify this, “said Lebogang Ramashala, the acting Ekurhuleni spokesperson.
Residents are encouraged to play a role in the fight against illegal connections by contacting the municipal services call centre on 0860 543 000 to report any suspicious conduct or people tampering with connections.
