Residents who contacted the Courier in recent days are questioning why they are receiving high water bills despite unreliable supplies, faulty meters and concerns about water quality.

Complaints about water accounts and unreliable water supplies are mounting in parts of the uMzinyathi District Municipality, with residents questioning what they are being charged for when water is frequently unavailable.

Residents have raised concerns about meters that are not functioning, scheduled water interruptions and accounts that they say do not appear to reflect their actual water consumption.

One resident, who recently visited the uMzinyathi District Municipality offices, said the number of people complaining about their water accounts was alarming.

“That place is a nightmare. Our water meter is not working. I don’t understand all the water shedding. We have water going off at 8am and only coming back at 5pm. The taps are dry, but the accounts are sky-high,” she said.

Concerns have also been raised about the quality of water reaching households, with residents reporting that the water is sometimes brown or discoloured.

The resident said the situation was particularly frustrating for households struggling to understand their bills while also dealing with an unreliable water supply.

“The water is brown, making people sick. I would really like to know what we are actually paying for?”

Residents demand answers

The complaints raise questions about the accuracy of municipal water billing, the maintenance and functioning of water meters, the management of water interruptions and the quality of water being supplied to communities.

Questions were also raised about whether all areas receive water accounts, with claims that many township and outlying areas within uMzinyathi are not billed.

FC Bester of the Endumeni Residents Association said he and his committee had been “attempting for months” to arrange a meeting with uMzinyathi officials to discuss the water issues.

“Clearly, there is a huge issue with uMzinyathi, which cannot supply proper accounts or provide water. Answers are rarely given. The ideal would be to revert to one municipality, which we previously had, and we did not experience all these issues.”

Thandeka Ngcobo, spokesperson for the uMzinyathi District Municipality, acknowledged the Courier’s query and said she would respond as soon as she had received more information.

The Courier will publish the municipality’s response once it is received.

What is your experience with your water account and water supply from Umizinyathi?

HAVE YOUR SAY: Like our Facebook page, follow us on Instagram and on our Whats Up Channel https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6TezkADTOJIPNmvO3u or email us at dundee.courier@caxton.co.za.