Gweru faulty meters affecting service delivery

Patrick Chitumba,Midlands Bureau Chief
THERE are more than 13 000 faulty water meters in Gweru, a development that has seen the city council relying on estimates to bill the affected domestic and commercial consumers.

The local authority requires nearly US$1 million to replace the meters.
Of the non-functioning water meters, 12 733 are for domestic consumers while 607 are for commercial and industrial consumers

Every month, council charges 20 kilolitres for each domestic consumer with the faulty water meter and about 100 kilolitres for a commercial consumer.

City of Gweru public relations officer, Ms Vimbai Chingwaramusee said faulty meters were affecting service delivery.

“There are more than 13 000 faulty water meters in the City of Gweru and as council we are now using estimates to bill the affected households and businesses. Non-functional meters as at the end of the September were 13  340, which is 12 733 in residential areas and 607 in industrial and commercial areas,” she said.

Ms Chingwaramusee said the local authority needs more than US$880 000 to replace the faulty meters.

“As a local authority, we have a plan to replace non-functional meters and the estimated cost is US$885 380,” said Ms Chingwaramusee.

She said relying on estimates to bill water consumers is putting council at a disadvantage as there are chances of undercharging.

Residents have raised concern over the faulty meters, arguing that billing based on estimates may result in them being overcharged.

“I have a faulty meter at my house in Mkoba and I approached council a year ago and they promised to replace it, but nothing has been done. What irritates me is that they are billing me 20kl a month, which translates to about 20  000 litres or about 95 drums of water,” said Mr Lawrence Nkomo of Mkoba 20.

Meanwhile, Ms Chingwaramusee said the local authority is facing challenges in supplying water to residents due to continued breakdown of equipment and bursting of water pipes linking Gwenhoro water works and the residential areas.

She said 40 percent of treated water is lost through leakages hence plans are underway to upgrade the water reticulation infrastructure.