cape economy

NEWS RELEASE 6 June 2002

NEW DEVICE BEING TESTED BY CITY TO HELP WATER ACCOUNT DEFAULTERS GET FREE LIFELINE WATER

The City of Cape Town is testing a new device that could help to end conflict with communities over non-payment for water supplies.

"We are hopeful that the system we are now testing will assist us with credit control in a caring and humane manner," said the City's Executive Committee member responsible for Trading Services, Councillor David Erleigh.

"We are totally committed to ensuring that all our people have access to basic water. "Until now non-payers have had their water supply cut off completely if they fail to make arrangements with the City to pay their arrears, but the City is determined to enhance its policy of supplying 6 kl free basic water a month to all citizens as a basic right," he said.

To resolve this problem, the City is now testing flow enablers that limit the daily flow of water to yield 6kl over a period of 30 days. About 100 defaulters in the Cape Town administration area are involved in the two-month pilot project.

"This will allow consumers in hard-pressed areas to better manage their water consumption so that they don't run up debts they cannot pay," said Councillor Erleigh.With the growing number of defaulters and the large numbers of indigent people, the supply of free basic water has become difficult to manage.

The flow enabler being used in the pilot project is cost-effective and allows the supply of free basic water without being too prescriptive about daily consumption.

It does, however, allow a maximum of only 200 litres a day.

There are also downsides

* Meters are inclined to under-register consumption

* A 9-litre toilet takes just under an hour to refill itself which could pose a health risk depending on the number of house occupants

* Water pipe bursts near the flow enabler could cause blockages and emergency call-outs

* Pressure fluctuations influence the amount of water passing through the enabler

"A monitoring and information-gathering process is underway to monitor the effectiveness of the device and any change in the status of the debtor as far as payment is concerned," said Councillor Erleigh.

Information collected will be sent to the director of water services for further discussion.

Issued by Rosemary Hare Public Relations cc

P O Box 12521

MILL STREET

8010

On behalf of The City of Cape Town

Private Bag X9181

CAPE TOWN

8000

For further information contact Karin Parsons or Shanaaz Adams at Rosemary

Hare Public Relations on (021) 465-1166.

All news releases produced by Rosemary Hare Public Relations are available

on the website www.rosehare.co.za

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Shanaaz Adams

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Rosemary Hare Public Relations cc

P O Box 12521

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