Prepaid water meter roll-out on track across uMhlathuze
IT is full-steam ahead in the roll-out of prepaid meters to households across the City of uMhlathuze, with the project continuing in this financial year.
While the municipality has set targets and budgeted for the installation of more prepaid meters, it is noting positive feedback in reducing water losses and improving revenue collection.
According to the city’s chief financial officer Mxolisi Kunene, “The installation has greatly improved debtors because water is purchased before use, unlike consuming the service before payment."
The municipality is in the process of replacing existing water meters with prepaid ones over the next few financial years - with between 3 000 and 3 500 meters expected to be installed annually.
While the roll-out was met with confusion by residents and initial teething problems, there is a positive turnaround in the project implementation.
The process began in Veldenvlei and Arboretum last year and later extended to Empangeni suburbs.
uMhlathuze Ward 3 Councillor Henning de Wet told the ZO on Friday that the roll-out has thus far been a success.
“In the beginning, there were some complaints and I had to visit individual households to be able to take note of and address challenges experienced by residents,” he said.
“There was some confusion from residents during the initial stage, particularly relating to the method of purchase via banking apps and thirdparty vendors.
“But when residents began understanding the process of topping up their meters, there have been minimal complaints since and it is progressing fairly,” said Cllr de Wet.