Water fines cancelled – now what?

Sembcorp Siza Water (SSW) customers uttered a sigh of relief when it was announced at last week’s Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers’ Association (DOCRRA) meeting on Wednesday, July 8 that all fines will be scrapped on condition that residents save water.

SSW’s “shock tactics” seem to be working because SSW managing director, Shyam Misra said there has definitely been a reduction in water usage since issuing (and cancelling) fines.

“As presented on Wednesday evening we tried various initiatives to get consumers on board to reduce consumption and these only partially brought about reductions. Upon reviewing our billing system statistics showing that very few consumers had achieved the savings, we had to take more drastic action to make the community aware of the seriousness of the matter. Hence, it was the first time that we levied the fines onto the accounts and since the fines went out, there has been a drastic reduction in consumption,” said Misra.

He said they knew consumers would react negatively to fines, but their main aim was for people to focus on reducing their consumption.

“We had no issue writing off the fines this time round, but further non-compliance will result in penalties being imposed,” said Misra.

SSW and DOCRRA will work together to find an alternative penalty system to issuing fines. Consumers have been given a 10 day window period to make and submit alternative penalty ideas to DOCRRA upon which a decision will be made.

Misra warned that once an alternative penalty system is in place, the same leniency will not be extended again to those who do not save water.

“Our intention was never to make money from the fines, hence our agreement to have the fines cancelled,” said Misra.

He said all they wanted to do is to stretch the storage in the Hazelmere Dam until some decent rain fell and the Lower Tugela Bulk Water Scheme becomes operational next year.