MBOMBELA – The marked increase in water bills each month has the community up in arms. Residents are complaining about the sky-high bills. They have increased by R500 or more and residents are livid. According to Mr Richmond Jele, of Sembcorp Silulumanzi, on July 1 the water and sanitation tariffs increased by 10,33 per cent as promulgated by the municipality.
He encouraged the community always to ensure that their internal plumbing was done by a professional and that all water leaks were attended to and fixed immediately.
One way to check whether one has a water leak is to close all taps, toilets and geyser and then watch the dials on the water meter to see whether they are moving or not. “If the dials move slowly, chances are good that there’s a small leak somewhere in the internal plumbing that needs urgent attention before any further water is wasted and residents receive an increased water bill at month-end,” said Jele. Some residents have already installed geysers with timers. That way, there is no water that overflows and gets wasted during the day while they are at work or at night when everyone is asleep and do not need hot water. Jele advised the community to cover their flowerbeds with mulch to minimise evaporation.
Always ensure that, after flushing the toilet, the hand set has been moved completely back in place to prevent leaking. Use a bucket and not a hosepipe to wash your car. If you are an avid gardener, especially with a big lawn, it might be a good idea to invest in rainwater harvesting and reusing your bath, shower and kitchen water
