CITY HAS INTRODUCED FIXED WATER CHARGE

IN RESPONSE to the letter “Inexplicable water account charge” (October 11).

The City has introduced a fixed charge linked to the diameter of the connection servicing the property. This decision was to make the tariff more resilient to drought periods when water sales decrease, as the operation of the supply network costs remain similar no matter how much or how little water people use.

Revenue shortfalls during these periods can weaken the integrity of the networks due to a lack of funds for maintenance. A fixed charge also allows the City to keep the price per kilolitre of water lower than would otherwise be required to operate a sustainable water supply system. This decision was widely communicated.

Making the charge related to the size of the service connection was done on the basis that larger connection sizes are required to service properties with more baths, geysers etc. If the metered connection size is too small, it could lead to low water pressure when many appliances are in use.

Larger metered connections/ properties with more loading factors lead to increased infrastructure costs for the City, as larger metered connections require a greater level of access to the water supply. This in turn will influence infrastructure requirements further up the network to ensure enough water is available for the property to have sufficient water inflow for its maximum needs. CLLR XANTHEA LIMBERG Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy.