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Fixed basic charge for water

<span> <h2 class="sectHeading">About</h2></span> <p>The fixed basic charge is a monthly amount payable by every non-indigent household. Households that are registered as indigent with the City will be charged at a lower rate. The charge is based on the size of the meter connection to your property and has been calculated to cover about a quarter of the fixed costs that are associated with supplying water to your home. Because it is fixed, the monthly charge will remain the same regardless of how much water you use.</p><p>The fixed basic charge for water will appear as a separate line item on your monthly municipal account from the City under the water section. You will find the fixed basic charge under your domestic consumption charge breakdown. Your meter number and meter connection size will also be reflected.</p><p>The fixed basic charge is scaled according to the size of your metered connection, as follows:</p><div><div class="mobile-scroll"><table><thead><tr><th>Size (mm) </th><th>Monthly charge (incl. VAT) </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>15</td><td>R87,29<br></td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>R155,87<br></td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>R243,15<br></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">40</td><td rowspan="1">R623,47<br></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">50</td><td rowspan="1">R974,17<br></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">80</td><td rowspan="1">R2 493, 87<br></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">100</td><td rowspan="1">R3 896,67<br></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">>150</td><td rowspan="1">varies</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="mobile-scroll"></div></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Why is it necessary?</h2><p>The costs associated with operating the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/WaterJourney-WaterAndSanitation.pdf" target="_blank">City’s water supply system</a>, including repairs and maintenance programmes, remain largely the same regardless of how much water is used. </p><p>The City’s tariff structure has allowed the City to subsidise water for the majority of customers. This structure has been working well, but the water restrictions imposed during the drought resulted in greatly reduced revenue from water usage, which affected the City's ability to cover maintenance costs. We have reworked the tariff structure to include a fixed component to make it more sustainable. The new structure will create revenue stability and ensure that resources are available for necessary operations and maintenance, including during times of reduced water usage.</p><p>Cape Town is already head and shoulders above the rest of the country with the maintenance of our water infrastructure. For instance, our overall water losses are 16, 7% compared with the national average of 36% and we want to do better. This fee allows us to continue to operate our network reliably and sustainably.</p> <span> </span> <span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Account queries</h2></span> <p>You can query your account in one of the following ways:</p><ul><li>Online through our <a href="https://eservices1.capetown.gov.za/coct/wapl/zsreq_app/index.html" target="_blank">Service Request tool<i class="icon link-external"></i></a></li><li>Email <a href="mailto:water@capetown.gov.za%E2%80%8B?subject=Basic%20Fixed%20Charge%20Query">water@capetown.gov.za</a></li><li>Call <a><em>0800 103 089</em> </a>(choose option 2: water-related faults)</li><li>SMS <em>31373</em> (<em>free SMSes do not apply</em>)</li><li>Visit your nearest <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Local%20and%20communities/See-all-City-facilities/Our-service-facilities/Walk-in%20centres" target="_blank">municipal Walk-in centre.</a></li></ul><h2 class="sectHeading">City Connect</h2> <span> <div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic"> <i class="info citycard"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>You may also want to:</h4><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Pay/Municipal-accounts/Electricity/pay-your-rates-and-services-account">Pay your water bill</a></p><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Municipal-services/Water-and-sanitation/Apply-for-a-Water-Management-Device">Apply for a water management device</a></p><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Municipal-services/Water-and-sanitation/Apply-for-a-new-water-connection">Apply for a new water connection</a></p></div></div></span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Contact us</h2><h4> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Departments/Water%20and%20Sanitation">Water and Sanitation Department</a></h4><p> <em>Telephone:<br><a>0860 103 089</a></em></p><p> <em>Email:<br><a href="mailto:water@capetown.gov.za">water@capetown.gov.za</a></em> </p>

What is the fixed basic charge, who has to pay it and why?