Dear Editor
In times of economic hardship where the poorest amongst us bare an even bigger brunt,I as a Councillor would like to inform the public about how they can go about being proactive in a bid to save water and minimize costs. At the same time consumers can be reimbursed for water loss owing to the claims policy in place.
People need to check their bills on a monthly basis and compare the amounts reflected in consecutive months. Should you see a sudden hike in charges,immediately contact a plumber to test for a water leaks. This is a simple process which can be done by closing all taps and taking a meter reading. If you notice a difference in your meter reading after 3 hours then this proves that there is a leak. A contributing factor to this is the old infrastructure that we have.
Consumers who do experience problems with leakage need to fill out a water loss insurance form and hand this in to the municipality. Consumers who do not pay the monthly insurance charge of around R6 will have to pay the full cost of their bills.
According to policy,consumers will be covered for the additional costs based on their average daily consumption. The policy states as follows " that only your last two months reading will be taken into account when paying for your claim and you will only be paid for the water lost within the leak period".
The water loss insurance company does not pay your Sewage Disposal charge.You will have to contact the water department to have this charge removed from your account and ensure that they credit you with the VAT which the Municipality charges you. According to the Insurance company majority off the Customers in Ethekwini Municipality who claim for water loss insurance claim too late as the customers are not informed and do not understand the policy. The next time you pay your water account, request a Policy document for water loss (which is only one page). The policy states that they will only pay out "as per wording in the policy".To ensure that you understand how this policy works,make certain that you have a copy of it so that if you have a water leak, you can claim for the water loss and not be left with a huge bill to pay.It is the same Municipality that will not even think twice to disconnect your electricity and restrict your water.
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People need to check their bills on a monthly basis and compare the amounts reflected in consecutive months. Should you see a sudden hike in charges,immediately contact a plumber to test for a water leaks. This is a simple process which can be done by closing all taps and taking a meter reading. If you notice a difference in your meter reading after 3 hours then this proves that there is a leak. A contributing factor to this is the old infrastructure that we have.
Consumers who do experience problems with leakage need to fill out a water loss insurance form and hand this in to the municipality. Consumers who do not pay the monthly insurance charge of around R6 will have to pay the full cost of their bills.
According to policy,consumers will be covered for the additional costs based on their average daily consumption. The policy states as follows " that only your last two months reading will be taken into account when paying for your claim and you will only be paid for the water lost within the leak period".
The water loss insurance company does not pay your Sewage Disposal charge.You will have to contact the water department to have this charge removed from your account and ensure that they credit you with the VAT which the Municipality charges you. According to the Insurance company majority off the Customers in Ethekwini Municipality who claim for water loss insurance claim too late as the customers are not informed and do not understand the policy. The next time you pay your water account, request a Policy document for water loss (which is only one page). The policy states that they will only pay out "as per wording in the policy".To ensure that you understand how this policy works,make certain that you have a copy of it so that if you have a water leak, you can claim for the water loss and not be left with a huge bill to pay.It is the same Municipality that will not even think twice to disconnect your electricity and restrict your water.
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Kind Regards
Cllr Bradley Singh
Ward Councillor 52
Ethekwini Municipality
Member off Economic Development and Town Planning Committe
Minority Front Chief Whip
Minority Front Youth Leader
0315007580
0723725326
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