‘There goes our water and money’ – Nothnagel

VANDERBIJKLPARK. – Despite the extensive coverage in Vaalweekblad 8 to 10 April about the wastage of water it seems that ELM officials still haven’t got the real message about just how much water is being wasted by the gross negligence of their employees.
This comes from DA councillor Philip Nothnagel who says figures reported by the Auditor General for ELM for 2013/14 under subheading 10, stated: “As disclosed in note 34 to the financial statements, the municipality incurred material losses amounting to R175 255 483 (2012-13: R169 274 580) as a result of material distribution losses, which represents 34.1% (2012-13: 31, 9%) of the total water purchased.
ELM has spent a lot of money on solving the mystery of why we are losing such a lot of water. I realise that a part of our losses can be ascribed to our aging infrastructure. It is, however, very clear that a lot of water is being wasted due to the fact that officials appointed by ELM are not doing the jobs that they have been appointed for and paid to do,” says Nothnagel. A serious water leak in Danie Theron Street in Ward 5 on May 2 this year. Nothnagel says this leak has not yet been fixed despite the fact that it has been repeatedly reported to ELM officials since May 4.
“The water has now been leaking for 17 days as at Tuesday this week. Thousands of kilo-litres of water and a lot of money is being wasted.
“Officials responsible for this mess should be disciplined for gross negligence of their duties. Just how long is ELM going to allow this chaotic situation to continue? Remember the R175 Million for water losses end up being paid by the taxpayers in Emfuleni!”
Vaalweekblad brought the continuing leakage in Danie Theron Street to the municipality’s attention again.