News / Local
Councillors blast water rationing scheme
09 Aug 2012 at 05:52hrs | Views
BULAWAYO Councillors have attacked the city's water rationing scheme saying it is pro-rich as it exposed residents in western suburbs to punitive fines while favouring those in the eastern suburbs.
Ironically, it is councillors who make resolutions about rationing limits, which council management implements.
According to the latest council report, some councillors felt that residents in the eastern suburbs were being unfairly allocated more water to use per day than people in the western areas.
Each household in the eastern suburbs is not supposed to use more than 350 litres of water per day while the limit in the western suburbs is 300 litres daily.
There is no charge to residents for the first five cubic metres of water used in a month.
Residents pay $0,75 for the next six to 14 cubic metres.
The next 15 to 25 cubic metres cost $1 and those who exceed 25 kilolitres pay $1,50 per cubic metre.
Exceeding the rationing limit would lead to residents paying $2,63 per cubic metre, on the excess.
Clr Earnest Rafamoyo of Ward 20 started debate on the issue, arguing that there were more people per household in the western suburbs and therefore, the suburbs deserved a higher ration.
"Water rationing favours the low density suburbs, which are allocated 350 litres per day whereas in the high density areas the allocation is 300 litres per household per day. A household in the high density suburbs has an average of 15 people," read the report.
Ward 21's Clr Reuben Matengu concurred with Clr Rafamoyo, saying the scheme was pro-rich.
Clr Norman Hlabani, from Ward 26, disagreed saying council's water policy ensured that all poor residents were protected.
"Each household in the city is entitled to 14 kilolitres of free water every month, in this regard, the scheme is pro-poor," said Clr Hlabani.
Councillors who agreed with him said normal usage of water would not exceed the free threshold, for an "average" family.
Ward 6 Councillor, Clr Jennifer Bent's view was that the perception that people in the low density suburbs were rich was not correct.
They said if residents conserved water, it was possible for them to pay nothing every month.
Although some councillors still felt western suburbs residents were being unfairly treated, the decision not to change the rationing limits that had been made by the future water supplies committee earlier, was upheld.
Council recently tightened water-shedding in the face of a water crisis that has resulted in water-shedding being introduced in Bulawayo.
Under the stringent water-shedding schedule, residential areas are going without water for 24 hours, twice every week.
Council reportedly made the decision in an effort to prolong the little water left in the city's five supply dams, until the next rainy season.
Other measures designed to force residents to use less water include increasing the fine for people found using a hosepipe to $1 500, from $200.
Last year, council announced that people caught using domestic water for construction would be fined $1 000 up from $30 and those who use water for brick moulding would also pay $1 000.
Ironically, it is councillors who make resolutions about rationing limits, which council management implements.
According to the latest council report, some councillors felt that residents in the eastern suburbs were being unfairly allocated more water to use per day than people in the western areas.
Each household in the eastern suburbs is not supposed to use more than 350 litres of water per day while the limit in the western suburbs is 300 litres daily.
There is no charge to residents for the first five cubic metres of water used in a month.
Residents pay $0,75 for the next six to 14 cubic metres.
The next 15 to 25 cubic metres cost $1 and those who exceed 25 kilolitres pay $1,50 per cubic metre.
Exceeding the rationing limit would lead to residents paying $2,63 per cubic metre, on the excess.
Clr Earnest Rafamoyo of Ward 20 started debate on the issue, arguing that there were more people per household in the western suburbs and therefore, the suburbs deserved a higher ration.
"Water rationing favours the low density suburbs, which are allocated 350 litres per day whereas in the high density areas the allocation is 300 litres per household per day. A household in the high density suburbs has an average of 15 people," read the report.
Ward 21's Clr Reuben Matengu concurred with Clr Rafamoyo, saying the scheme was pro-rich.
Clr Norman Hlabani, from Ward 26, disagreed saying council's water policy ensured that all poor residents were protected.
Councillors who agreed with him said normal usage of water would not exceed the free threshold, for an "average" family.
Ward 6 Councillor, Clr Jennifer Bent's view was that the perception that people in the low density suburbs were rich was not correct.
They said if residents conserved water, it was possible for them to pay nothing every month.
Although some councillors still felt western suburbs residents were being unfairly treated, the decision not to change the rationing limits that had been made by the future water supplies committee earlier, was upheld.
Council recently tightened water-shedding in the face of a water crisis that has resulted in water-shedding being introduced in Bulawayo.
Under the stringent water-shedding schedule, residential areas are going without water for 24 hours, twice every week.
Council reportedly made the decision in an effort to prolong the little water left in the city's five supply dams, until the next rainy season.
Other measures designed to force residents to use less water include increasing the fine for people found using a hosepipe to $1 500, from $200.
Last year, council announced that people caught using domestic water for construction would be fined $1 000 up from $30 and those who use water for brick moulding would also pay $1 000.
Source - Chronicle
