Now we must pay for saving water as extra levy looms

SAVING water has a down side for Durban residents as they may soon be paying higher municipal bills.

The extra cost comes from an additional drought levy, authorised by the government, to compensate bulk water supplier Umgeni Water for getting less revenue from councils like eThekwini because of lower consumption during the drought.

eThekwini Municipality’s head of water, Ednick Msweli, said the drought levy, for which a final report had yet to be submitted to council, would mean that customers would pay more for using less water.

Msweli said the city had raised its objection to the levy in a submission to Umgeni Water.

The drought levy was approved by the Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane in July and introduced at the beginning of this month.

In explaining the levy, Msweli said: “The less we buy (from Umgeni Water), the more we pay with the levy. The drought levy makes up for the loss in revenue incurred by Umgeni. They have overheads to account for as well.”

Shami Harichunder, corporate stakeholder manager at Umgeni Water, said the levy had been implemented as one of several measures to “promote the efficient use of water in order to ensure the water lasts as long as possible”.

“The principle that informed the introduction of the levy is the compelling need to conserve water, especially as the drought, described as one of the worst since the mid-1980s, tightens its grip on the province of KwaZulu-Natal.”

Harichunder said there had been below-average rainfall over a 30-month period which had resulted in Midmar and Albert Falls dams remaining consistently at below 50 percent and 30 percent respectively. The dams supply uMgungundlovu District, Pietermaritzburg and about 80 percent of eThekwini, and the amount of water is not sufficient to meet full demand.

Umgeni Water reduced potable water production by 15 percent at its water treatment plants within the Mngeni system, followed by the introduction of mandatory water restrictions of 15 percent.

Harichunder explained that the less water that is used, the smaller the rand value of the water levy.

While the need to conserve water is emphasised by the water body and the municipality, residents will also have to play their part.

Msweli said the city did not have a budget for the drought levy.

“We will have to then pass on to the customers the charges as we didn’t budget for this.

“However, we want more engagement on this. This still needs to be brought up at council for us to take the next step forward. I don’t think council has many options though, we just have to work out the details of how it’s going to work and what we have to do,” he said.

Ward councillor Heinz de Boer said no information had been presented at council on the levy.

“The biggest water waster is eThekwini itself by losing 40 percent of all water purchased. Why must law-abiding and paying residents subsidise the city losses?” he asked.