10% penalty rate implemented to encourage residents to save water

The City of Ekurhuleni has begun to implement punitive measures on community members in order to try reduce the amount of water being used by residents.

“The City of Ekurhuleni is implementing a 10 percent punitive rate to step up measures to save water,” said Mr Themba Gadebe, the spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

According to Mr Gadebe, since the implementation of water restrictions in August, the EMM has only achieved a 0.8 percent saving rate compared to the required 15 percent.

Mr Gadebe said residents who use more than 25 kilolitres (kl) of water per month will be charged a 10 percent punitive rate.

“The 25kl is inclusive of the 6kl of free water supply provided to all household and domestic users,” said Mr Gadebe.

Mr Gadebe said there will also be restrictions for businesses and other users.

He said they will be charged up to a 40 percent penalty if they fail to decrease their annual average usage by 15 percent.

The average will be based on the user’s consumption over 12 months, from September 2015 to August 2016.

“Municipal bylaws will strongly be enforced to transgressors as per the water restriction tariffs of 2016/2017,” said Mr Gadebe.

The City of Ekurhuleni urges residents to double up efforts their to save water.

Restrictions currently in place include:

•  Not using hosepipes, sprinkler or irrigation systems.
•  No filling of swimming pools at all times.
•  No watering of gardens between 6am and 6pm.

“The City of Ekurhuleni will apply zero tolerance to illegal connections of water, such as the use of fire hydrants or any other unauthorised water connection and consumption,” said Mr Gadebe.

With regards to the connection of illegal connections Mr Gadebe said in cases of household usage a fee of R6 753.64 will be charged per incident and R13 762.24 will be charged where business and other water usage is occurring

Customers can view or download the municipal Water Tariffs 2016/17 at https://www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/thecouncil/tariffs.

Customers are encouraged to continue reporting water service related incidents or interruptions through:

•  The municipal call centre on 086 054 3000
•  Through social media channels @EMM_Call_Centre and the City of Ekurhuleni’s Facebook page.

Watch: MMC talks water restrictions