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Ekurhuleni introduces ‘10% punitive rate’ as current water restrictions failed to stem usage

As the country battles drought‚ the City of Ekurhuleni has announced stricter water usage restrictions.

Spokesman Themba Gadebe said they were implementing a 10% punitive rate to “step up measures to save water”.

“The Water and Sanitation Department announced that the city had only achieved a 0.8% saving rate compared to the required 15% water saving since the implementation of water restrictions (in a gazette published on August 12).

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“Residents using more than 25kl of water will be charged a 10% punitive rate. The 25kl is inclusive of the 6kl of free water supply provided to all household and domestic users‚” Gadebe said.

He said a penalty fee of R6753.64 per incident on the property representing water consumption and related administration costs in cases of household usage will be charged.

A penalty of R13 762.24 will also be charged per incident on the property representing water consumption and related administration costs in cases where business and other usage is applicable‚ Gadebe added.

Businesses and other users will face further harsher punishment.

“[They] will be charged up to a 40% penalty if they fail to decrease their annual average usage by 15%. This average will be based on their consumption over 12 months‚ from September 2015 to August 2016.

“Municipal by-laws will strongly be enforced to transgressors as per the water restriction tariffs of 2016/2017‚” he said.

Gadebe urged residents to double the efforts to save water. Last month‚ the City announced level two restrictions.

These include:

- No use of hosepipes‚ sprinklers and irrigation systems;

- No filling of swimming pools at all times; and

- In addition‚ there should be no watering of gardens between 6am and 6pm.

“The City of Ekurhuleni will apply zero tolerance to illegal connection of water such as the use of fire hydrants or any other unauthorised water connection and consumption.”

 

 

– TMG Digital/Sowetan

 

 

 

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