The metro loses over 120 448 kilolitres of water per annum through illegal water connections.
It is for this reason that the municipality is taking a tough stance towards customers continuing to use water illegally.
Illegal water connections not only result in unnecessary loss of water and costs to the municipality but are a violation to other residents’ right to access clean water.
A farmer is facing legal charges after an unlawful underground water pipe connected to the municipality’s water supply network was discovered.
The illegal connection resulted in damages to a 400mm pipe supplying water to the Germiston reservoir in Dawn Park, causing residents in that area to be without water for three consecutive days.
Offenders found with an unmetered water supply due to illegal connections will be liable to a penalty, as well as additional charges to cover the costs incurred due to damages caused to the network or connections.
“Any form of theft is condemned by the municipality.
“We call upon customers who are illegally connected to the network to come forward and rectify this,” said Lebogang Ramashala, acting metro spokesman.
Residents are encouraged to play a role in the fight against illegal connections by contacting the municipal services call centre on 0860 543 000 to report any suspicious conduct or people tampering with connections.
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