Consider other water sources before putting up tariffs again

NMBM residents cannot afford the high water tariffs due to the high rate of unemployment.

Before I get to the real challenges, let me first and foremost thank city officials (not politicians) for their excellent work in ensuring over many years that the taps keep on running.

NMBM has some of the best managers in South Africa when it comes to the managing of water delivery.

Politicians are responsible for, among others, policy and oversight, including approving tariff increases.

The council must therefore create an environment that will empower our highly skilled officials to take the city to the next level when it comes to water demand management.

Droughts come and go, and the tendency to increase water tariffs whenever we are in a drought highlights the metro’s rudimentary water demand management style.

Before the council in future considers increases in water tariffs it must, among others, ask the following questions:

ý Do we have desalination plants in place (more than one) – we are a coastal city?

ý Do we utilise ground water (for drinking purposes as well)?

ý Do we harvest rain water and water from rivers and streams?

ý Do we assist schools, sport bodies, churches, etc to use underground water?

ý Do we subsidise water tanks for use by residents?

ý Do we remove water-thirsty alien plants, prevent water pollution, and in the process create work, and generate income and energy through recycling, etc?

ý Do we pressurise the government to increase the capacity of, for example, the Kouga Dam and to build more dams where viable that can serve the NMBM?

ý Do we allow our university to assist us with water demand management (adopt a more scientific approach) and avoid the mistakes Cape Town made;

ý Do we learn from droughtstricken coastal cities from around the world?

The NMBM, like Cape Town, is partly to be blame for its current water challenges due to poor political leadership and foresight.

I do not deem NMB a waterstressed city as on average we get enough rain (relative to real drought-stricken cities where it hardly rains around the world) and we have the luxury to “import” water.

Poor management and investment in water infrastructure, and pollution (we are an extremely dirty city) is considered by waterwise cities around the world as a critical factor in water demand management – far more important than tariff increases.

To the politicians who claim to be fighting for the poor I trust that some of the suggestions above will be implemented to get us to the stage where we can scrap the increased tariffs in the interest of the poor who cannot afford to buy bread.

Put money back into their pockets.

The unacceptable excuse that the council has an indigent policy does not hold water.

Those political parties that support the high water increases will definitely not secure my vote.

It is raining while I am writing this letter and am grateful that underground water is replenished in anticipation of the boreholes that will be drilled soon.

Soon we will pray that it rains not only in the catchment areas of the dams but also in the area of the boreholes.