malvernmugadzikwa
Gweru City requires about US$1 million to replace over 13 000 malfunctioning water meters on residential and commercial properties, a development which has seen it estimating bills for
residents and ratepayers.
About 12 700 of the faulty meters are for households while just over 600 are for commercial and industrial entities.
City public Relations Officer Vimbai Chingwaramusee, said the local authority was losing revenue as some residents were using water which they were not paying for.
“Non-functional meters as of the 28th of September 2022 are 13 340. Residential areas are 12 733 while industrial/commercial are 607.
“As a local authority, we have a plan to replace non-functional meters, the estimated cost is US$885 380,” she said.
Chingwaramusee said at the moment the local authority did not have the funds to revamp the water reticulation system to avert water rationing but they had long-term plans to upgrade it.
“We have a standing long term plan to refurbish the entire water reticulation system,” she said.
Residents, however, complain that the faulty meters saw them being billed based on estimates, which had inflated figures.
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