#Letter: No solution to water leak problem

Hannes van Romburgh of Zinkwazi Beach writes:

As follow up to my letter in The North Coast Courier of September 2 regarding high water pressure and the water hammer that is causing water losses in Zinkwazi Beach.

I do not agree with iLembe district municipal operations manager, Mr E Bhengu, that they are taking water losses seriously.

If so, has a proper investigation been done to determine the root cause of the failures and has remedial action been taken relating to the Zinkwazi Beach water system?

It appears as if the iLembe municipality is profiteering from its consumers’ water leaks and air in the water system. I am not the only one experiencing water losses as most of the consumers around me experience water leaks and high water bills.

With reference to my past experience with iLembe district municipality some time ago, the following:

1. I was billed about R5 000. I paid that amount as I did have a water leak.

2. iLembe district municipality then used that bill to give me an estimated account, arguing that I had used that water and then on the next account, they charged me interest on that estimated amount.

3. I sent them dated photos that I had not used that water and was ignored. I thus declared a dispute with them.

4. Much later they reconciled the account, but not all the charges were reconciled.

I upgraded my water system to class 12 HDPE pipe, 12 Bar.

Then a water leak occurred at the municipality’s water meter installation on my side of the meter. They are thus responsible for the water leak.

It is unfair of them to expect me to pay for their water leak as they had created it with undue water pressure and water hammer in their faulty system.

I have tried several times to communicate with the municipality to resolve the issue through their reporting system with no response – just another bill of about R3 000.

iLembe Operations Manager Elias Bhengu responds:

The follow-up letter to the district municipality’s response is noted. Unfortunately, iLembe is not in a position to provide a comprehensive response at this stage.

A team of water conservation and water demand management specialists are currently logging some critical points in Zinkwazi. The letter writer’s meter has been logged as well to have a profile of the pressures in and around Zinkwazi.

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