City’s new water billing system yet to take off

 

system as residents and other water consumers would personally manage their accounts.

BCC director for engineering services Engineer Simela Dube said in an interview yesterday that one of the selected areas for the pilot project, Cowdray Park, was yet to be serviced, stalling the exercise.

“We have a pilot project that we are supposed to undertake before the pre-paid billing system is introduced. The exercise has to be undertaken in selected areas, which include Cowdray Park. We are yet to do a pilot project because some parts of that residential area are yet to be serviced,” said Eng Dube.

It is hoped that the pilot project would also be done in suburbs that include Nkulumane, Entumbane, Mzilikazi and Makokoba.
At the beginning of last year, BCC staged water demand management campaigns in most residential areas to raise awareness among residents about the intended plan to unveil the pre-paid meter system.

If implemented, ratepayers would buy tokens worth US$30 for them to access water.
The pre-paid water billing system works in the same way people swipe bank cards and one uses his or her token all the time when opening water taps.

And if the token has zero balance, it means one cannot access water.
Bulawayo United Residents’ Association chairman Mr Winos Dube queried the feasibility of the pre-paid water billing system.

“What is important to know is how feasible that project is. Do they have the capacity to introduce the scheme. Are they talking of something really feasible; where will they install the system; is it on each and every household? If so such a scheme is very costly, and we are very much aware of the constraints our council is faced with,” he said.

He said if BCC was to introduce such a scheme it was unlikely to be soon.
“We are also very much aware that Bulawayo is faced with serious water challenges and introducing the pre-paid water billing system will not have the desired impact. I think, as stakeholders, let’s all advocate for the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam and that is the only solution that can address water challenges facing the city,” he said.