THE Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality loses over 120 448 kilolitres of water a year 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.
According to Lebogang Ramashala, acting metro spokesman, 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 damage 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 unmetered water supply due to illegally connections will be liable to a penalty as well as additional charges to cover the costs incurred due to damage 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.”
Residents are encouraged to play a role in the fight against illegal connections by contacting the municipal services call centre on 086-054 3000 to report any suspicious conduct or people tampering with connections.
