TO ensure water consumers are billed correctly and the loss of non-revenue water is reduced, the City of Ekurhuleni continues with its R16-million project to replace 10 000 water meters that have exceeded their lifespan.
Non-revenue water (NRW) is water pumped into the City’s water supply network from Rand Water but is subsequently “lost” in the system.
One of the components of NRW is water losses, real and apparent, said Themba Gadebe, spokesperson for the metro.
Apparent losses is water that is actually used, or consumed but cannot be accounted for and is generally as a result of a combination of customer meter inaccuracies, unauthorised consumption or water theft, and data handling errors.
“The aim of this project is to target and replace all aged domestic meters that are currently under-reading water consumption, so as to increase the volume of water billed and thus accounted for by the City,” explained MMC for Water and Sanitation Clr Tiisetso Nketle.
“In the 2015/16 financial year, over 5 000 meters were replaced under this project. This year we are doubling that number to ensure that more consumers are able to access and read their meters,” continued Nketle, highlighting that this practice would lead to residents being aware of their consumption and save water.
The project began in February in some of the areas and is expected to be completed by June next year.
Meters that have been in operation for 20 years or more in Katlehong, Spruitview, Germiston, Alberton, Boksburg, Edenvale, Brakpan, Kempton Park, Tembisa, Nigel, Duduza and Springs will be replaced. These meters have already been identified by the City’s water and sanitation department.
Residents should at least expect a two-hour interruption during the installation.
