STRUGGLING TO MAKE SENSE OF THE WATER ISSUE

THE City’s handling of the water issue bothers me.

Not so long ago, consumers worked tirelessly to conserve water when a crisis stared us in the face. They heeded the City’s call to help avert Day Zero. In return, many received a kick in the teeth.

Slapped with outrageous bills, the real water savers despaired. At the same time, guzzlers were gifted “get out of jail” cards. At one stage the City attributed the hefty bills to leaks; I still can’t comprehend why all these all happen so suddenly.

Was there a no-convention where the leaks voted on when to spring into action? Was it a conspiracy by plumbers? Were the water pipes in on it? Or is the City’s billing system flawed?

Our reporting was frowned upon every time we exposed how consumers were exploited. We had no need to defend ourselves. Cape Argus readers did. Our readers are intelligent enough to make up their own minds about these issues.

The City has now relaxed the water curbs and the tariffs, and guess what? The real water savers are getting it in the teeth again. And the guzzlers keep smiling. The City’s logic – if one can call it that – boggles the mind. The folk in power at the Civic Centre might want to consider the kind of response they can expect the next time we have a crisis.