Council in pre-paid water meter campaign

The pilot pre-paid water meter system to be introduced in selected areas will see residents and other water consumers paying for water in advance.
Speaking during the road show, council officials said under the proposed system residents and other water consumers will buy tokens worth $30 for them to access water.
“The system works in the same way we swipe with our bank cards. One will use his/her token all the time when opening taps.
“When the token has zero balance, one cannot access water,” said one of the council officials.
Officials also told residents that the system will bring to an end complaints about the council’s billing system.
“When this system is operational, every consumer using the new system will be able to personally manage his or her water account. If ones decides not to pay what this simply means is that he or she will not access water,” said another official.
The council this week deployed teams to Makokoba, Nkulumane 12 and Cowdray Park to educate residents on how to conserve water and to explain why most residents have huge water bills.
An elderly man from Makokoba suurb identified as Khulu Denis Ndlovu expressed the hope that the pre-paid system would improve their lives.
“I live in the oldest location and our bills are always huge because we have experienced water bursts. These pipes are old and rusting and the council blames us. This pre-paid meters might provide the solution to our problem,” said Khulu Ndlovu.