Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
Herald Reporter
THE City of Harare, in partnership with Helcraw Water, today held a meeting with Ward 17 residents to address concerns raised pertaining to smart water meters.
In an interview after the meeting held at McDonald Pool in Avondale, Ward 17 Mt Pleasant Councillor Happymore Gotora said residents raised various issues and complaints since the installation of smart water meters.
“Some of the concerns raised include issues to do with bursts after the meters are installed. Some were saying that they had stopped receiving water after the meters were installed,” he said.
“Some were saying that the units were quickly being exhausted after they purchased them. So the engineers had time to explain what really happens and the remedies that they have to the issues raised by residents.
“For example, some of the residents were encouraged to install pipes within their homes from the main connection of the City of Harare to their households because there could be some leaks and so forth, and to air their concerns, if any, to the district office and the regional manager.”
Cllr Gotora said he is happy with the pipe replacement programme because Avondale and Sentosa had a problem with continuous burst water pipes.
“And it’s being rectified now and I want to believe that after the completion of this pipe replacement programme, we are going to have improved water supply in various households,” he said.
“I want to appeal to residents to be patient for now because when the project is taking place, it means some of the households will not be receiving water during that particular process.
“They promised me that after this coming week, they should have finished and water restored. Properties such as flats with bulk meters and other properties with more than one unit, for example, if they have a cottage or cottages, they have to apply for more meters to be installed on their properties.”
