Have your say on proposal: revised approach to domestic water metering | The Water and Sanitation Department is proposing that, from July 2021, the City no longer installs new water management device meters (WMDs), | <p>The Water and Sanitation Department is proposing that, from July 2021, the City no longer installs new water management device meters (WMDs), and that WMDs currently in service be replaced by the conventional meters with the latest metering technology as they reach the end of their expected lifespan. </p><p>As a result, the City’s approach to managing water usage in indigent households will also change. </p><p>It is proposed that usage limits that have been programmed into WMDs throughout the city will be systematically removed from 1 July 2021.</p><p>In place of volume-restricted WMDs at registered indigent properties, the City is proposing an alternative water management approach, in which customers take responsibility for using less than a maximum limit set by the City.</p><p>This approach forms part of proposed changes to the Tariff Policy as per the 2021/22 Tabled Budget.</p><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;"><tbody><tr><td width="1318" valign="top" style="padding:0px 5.4pt;border:1pt solid windowtext;width:791.35pt;background-color:#e7e6e6;"><span style="background-color:#e7e6e6;"><div align="center" style="margin:0px;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US"><strong>Proposal for customers who qualify for indigent</strong></span></font><span lang="en-US"> </span><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US"><strong>benefits</strong></span></font></span></font></div></span></td></tr><tr><td width="1318" valign="top" style="border-width:1pt;border-style:none solid solid;border-color:windowtext;padding:0px 5.4pt;width:791.35pt;"><div style="text-indent:-18pt;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:38.5pt;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Symbol"><span lang="en-US">·</span></font><font face="Symbol"><span lang="en-US"> </span></font><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">Existing WMD meters will be set to ‘open flow’, over time with effect from 1 July 2021. It will not happen immediately for all meters and will be done in phases. However, these customers will now be required to keep their monthly water use within a limit approved by Council. </span></font><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US"><strong>(15 000 litres or 15kl a month is the current proposal).</strong></span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:11pt;"> </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:14pt 0px 0px 38.5pt;text-indent:-18pt;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Symbol"><span lang="en-US">·</span></font><font face="Symbol"><span lang="en-US"> </span></font><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">Water and sanitation will be provided at no charge, but water usage on the property may not be more than the water volume limit as set by Council. As leaks on private plumbing will be counted by the meter as part of usage, property owners must act quickly to fix leaks. Households should check their monthly bills for any continuous spikes in monthly usage as a means to check for underground leaks in particular. (The City will still assist with once-off fixing of leaks on the indigent property where this has not been provided previously).</span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:11pt;"> </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:14pt 0px 0px 38.5pt;text-indent:-18pt;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Symbol"><span lang="en-US">·</span></font><font face="Symbol"><span lang="en-US"> </span></font><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">If water usage on the residential property is higher than the Council-approved limit for two consecutive months, a warning letter will be sent asking for the usage to be lowered to required levels by the following month.</span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:11pt;"> </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:14pt 0px 0px 38.5pt;text-indent:-18pt;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Symbol"><span lang="en-US">·</span></font><font face="Symbol"><span lang="en-US"> </span></font><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">If usage is higher than the approved limit for a third consecutive month, despite the issued warning, then a flow restricting disc will be inserted in the meter to limit water supply to a trickle flow.</span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:11pt;"> </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:14pt 0px 0px 38.5pt;text-indent:-18pt;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Symbol">·</font><font face="Symbol"><span> </span></font><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">These discs are designed to allow 6 000 litres (6kl) per month to the property which is aligned with the free basic allocation provided for in South Africa’s national water standards. This disc will remain in place for the following </span></font><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US"><strong>12 consecutive months</strong></span></font><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">. After the 12-month period has passed, the disc will be removed and the same process for the property will start again. </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US"> </span></font></span></font></div></td></tr><tr height="24" style="height:14.8pt;"><td width="1318" valign="top" style="border-width:1pt;border-style:none solid solid;border-color:windowtext;padding:0px 5.4pt;width:791.35pt;height:14.8pt;background-color:#e7e6e6;"><span style="background-color:#e7e6e6;"><div align="center" style="margin:0px;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US"><strong>Proposal for customers who</strong></span></font><span lang="en-US"> </span><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US"><strong>do not qualify for indigent benefits</strong></span></font></span></font></div></span></td></tr><tr height="27" style="height:16.6pt;"><td width="1318" valign="top" style="border-width:1pt;border-style:none solid solid;border-color:windowtext;padding:0px 5.4pt;width:791.35pt;height:16.6pt;"><div style="text-indent:-18pt;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36pt;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Symbol">·</font><font face="Symbol"><span> </span></font><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">Non-indigent customers whose accounts are in arrears for non-payment of municipal-related services will have their water supply restricted or reduced to a trickle flow using a flow-restricting disc, if they do not settle their account in full or enter into an agreed payment arrangement in response to the debt management warning letters. This is the same as the current debt management procedure as per the City’s Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy and By-law.</span></font></span></font></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US"><strong>Reasons for the review of metering approach:</strong></span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif">The City is committed to achieving the objectives set out in the Water Strategy. This includes the ‘wise use of water’ by all water users and managing the water network to reduce losses. </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif">The City will continue to support registered indigent residents through monthly water allocation at no charge, while promoting active management of that allocation. </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:11pt;"> </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">‘Since WMDs were first used by the City about 15 years ago, they have played an important role in bringing water usage down to more sustainable levels, and helping residents be more conscious of how much water they use.</span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">‘WMDs were also installed in the drought crisis to restrict excessive use by non-compliant customers.</span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font color="#1f497d" face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">‘Since WMDs were introduced, Cape Town has experienced both a severe drought and a year-long pandemic with lockdowns. These factors have significantly impacted our residents, our relationship with water and our economic situation</span></font><font color="#1f497d" face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">.</span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font color="#1f497d" face="Calibri,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">‘Taking into account the current economic pressure on residents that has been created by Covid-19 lockdowns; current urbanisation trends and growth of backyard tenants; and increasingly crowded conditions in many communities, the City is proposing to adapt our domestic metering approach to ensure a better balance between financial sustainability and ensuring adequate access to water for our most vulnerable residents.</span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font color="#1f497d" face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US"> </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif">‘It is proposed that the volume of water provided to qualifying indigent households be increased, and that they be given the opportunity to independently manage their monthly water usage, and play an active role in the collective effort to avoid wastage and maintain a sustainable level of water use.</font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font color="#1f497d" face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">‘In addition, residents on average are now using far less water than before the drought crisis, and there are new water supply schemes coming online (as per the City’s Water Strategy) that will protect this city better against possible future droughts that are likely to occur as a result of climate change. </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US"> </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">‘We believe that we have reached a point where residents, as our partners in water management, are entrusted with keeping their water usage within reasonable levels. The City, however, will continue to monitor and take steps to prevent excessive use, as outlined above.</span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">‘We encourage members of the public to submit their comments on the budget proposals using the available channels,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, Alderman Xanthea Limberg. </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><strong>Public participation: comment by 3 May 2021 </strong></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif">Covid-19 has an impact on the public participation process. </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif">To view the Tabled Budget please visit: </font><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/budget" target="_blank"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:11pt;"><font color="windowtext" face="Century Gothic,sans-serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.capetown.gov.za/budget</span></span></font></span></font></a><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> or go to your nearest subcouncil office or library for a copy of the budget. </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><strong>Community-based organisation (CBO) representatives may contact their subcouncil managers for further details on their respective </strong></font><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><span lang="en-US"><strong>area-based community meetings.</strong></span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><strong>Written comments</strong></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif">By email: </font><a target="_blank"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:11pt;"><font color="windowtext" face="Century Gothic,sans-serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Budget.Comments@capetown.gov.za</span></font></span></font></a></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif">Through your Ward Councillor / Subcouncil offices</font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"><strong>Verbal inputs</strong></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif">Phone: 0800 212 176</font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif">For assistance to comment in English, Afrikaans or isiXhosa, please phone 0800 212 176</font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif">Visit </font><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/HaveYourSay" target="_blank"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:11pt;"><font color="windowtext" face="Century Gothic,sans-serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.capetown.gov.za/HaveYourSay</span></span></font></span></font></a><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> for more information. </font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;"><font face="Times New Roman,serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><font face="Century Gothic,sans-serif"> </font></span></font></div><p> </p> | 2021-04-18T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |