More costly water tariffs on the cards

Metro likely to escalate rates to further reduce usage

AHIKE in tariffs is on the cards for Nelson Mandela Bay residents should water usage not be reduced by 15% before the end of the month. Yesterday, infrastructure, engineering and energy political head Annette Lovemore said while the metro had done relatively well in reducing water consumption, it was still not enough to achieve the target of 270 million litres a day.

“At the moment we are doing well compared to a month ago,” she said.

“We are down to between 295 and 300 million litres a day.

“It is still too high though. We need to get down to 270 million litres a day.”

Lovemore said should the metro not be able to meet the targeted 270 million litres a day, Part C of water restrictions would be implemented.

If Part C is implemented at the end of the month, residents will have to pay even more should they exceed their quota.

The city is under Part B of the water restrictions at present.

Under Part B, a household that uses 24 kilolitres of water a month will run up a bill of R314.

If Part C is implemented, that same monthly usage will cost R483.

Those who use more than 24kl a month could pay up to R59 a kilolitre exceeding that under Part C.

Each household is allowed to use no more than 400 litres of water a day.

“There will almost definitely be a need to move to the more punitive tariffs from February,” Lovemore said.

“The decision will only be made at the end of this month based on the average usage at that time.”

The city announced punitive water restrictions last month following an instruction from Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane to cut consumption by 15 % or face water-shedding.

Lovemore said some areas were already running dry.

“Not only must we avoid situations of areas running dry, as we have had in Reservoir Hills in Despatch, but we have to avoid the possibility of limited supply by the Department of Water and Sanitation,” she said.

Lovemore said that bulk water storage levels had increased on New Year’s Day.

Tempering the bad news with the good, she said: “The reservoirs are stable for now – 2017 has started with a water situation that doesn’t look too bad.”

Reservoir levels reported by the metro were as follows on New Year’s Day: Emerald 81%, Summit 73%, Chelsea 89%, Grassridge 23%, Motherwell 50%, Glendenning 77% and Gelvandale 49%.

While many people have taken to buying borehole water to fill up their swimming pools, the municipality said last week the sellers would be slapped with a R1 000 fine or have their water supply cut as they were not permitted to sell water.

The decision will only be made at the end of this month based on the average usage