What happens if my water meter
malfunctions?
If my account is high and I still
have no explanation for this, who
should I contact?
The City of Cape Town has more than 590 000 metered
connections and if your water meter malfunctions it is
Consult your municipal account for the telephone number and
ONLY contact the Financial Department for the following reasons:
1.If your high consumption has been confirmed and you would
like to arrange to pay off the account.
2.If an amount has been paid, but the account does not reflect it.
repaired at no cost to yourself and this maintenance is
carried on throughout the year.
I’ve spoken to my neighbour
who has a bigger garden and his
account is much smaller.
3.If you have been charged interest but have a valid reason for
wanting it written off.
How can I know how much water
I am consuming?
Comparing one household with another is never a sound basis
as every human being is different and consumption habits differ
from one individual to another, e.g. no two people water their
garden with exactly the same frequency or for the same length
of time. Incidentally, this can be tested simply by taking meter
readings at four properties three or more times a day at exactly
the same time over a period of say a week. The difference in the
consumption between each reading at the various properties will
surprise you.
The important thing is for you to be aware of how much is
consumed at your house. Don’t compare your water account
with that of a friend who stays in another city. The other
municipality’s tariff will almost certainly be different in some
way and their accounts could be for a different period.
Could there be a mistake in the
calculation of my account?
If the consumption is normal, the reading is correct and the
meter is registering accurately, it is remotely possible that in
making up an account an error is made. Feel free to contact
consumption enquiries on 0860 103 089 who will check your
account for you.
May I submit my water meter
reading by phone?
Yes - by phoning the corporate call centre on 0860 103 089.
The following chart can be used as a guide to where water
goes in the home and how water can be saved.
Saving water is a way of life
Where the water goes in the home
Average daily water use for a typical dwelling with four occupants.
Place
Family saving water Family not saving
water
Bath
2 x 150 mm deep 180 l each
2 x 100 mm deep 90 I each
Shower
2 showers 12 l /min
60 l per 5 min each
2 showers 6 l /min
24 l per 4 min each
(close tap while soaping)
Basin
Water used freely 30 l
Used carefully 20 l
Toilet
6 flushes pp pd 9 l cistern 216 l
Washing machine
5 x per week x 110 l = 550 l
Hand washing
Clothing, floors, windows
& other 20 l
Used sparingly
15 l
4 flushes pp pd
with hippo fitted
9 l cistern 112 l
4 x per week x 110 l = 440 l
Cooking & drinking
15 l
15 l
Dish washing
Sink filled with water
Used sparingly
each time 40 l
30 l
Total
939 l
530 l
equals 235 l per person per day
equals 132 l
per person per day
The above table excludes garden use.
PRINTED MARCH 2006
Saving water is a way of life
Why is my water
account so high?
Why is my water account so high?
In these days when everyone is under financial pressure more
than ever before, one hears consumers say ‘I am shocked and
horrified at my water account’, ‘this account is unreal’,
‘my account has never been more than R200,’ etc.
It is important that the consumers are aware of how much
water is consumed at a property and are not querying an
account simply because the charge is more than what was
perhaps expected.
There are, however, a number of reasons why a water account
may be high. So let us consider each one in turn.
Is it due to high consumption?
When consumers receive the account for a summer-reading cycle
the only account, which they often remember, is the last one,
which was for a colder and wetter period when less water was
used. They often react with disbelief when they are informed
that, allowing for a tariff increase, which took place during the
year, the account for the same reading cycle last year was just as
high as the one which they are now querying.
It must also be remembered that if your account is marked
‘Domestic’ the tariff at which you are billed is on a sliding scale,
the purpose of which is to encourage consumers to save water.
For example, the sliding scale currently (2005/2006) excl. VAT
in effect for the City of Cape Town is one in which the first six
kilolitres (kl) are free. For the next 6 kl you pay R2,28 per kl.
For the next 8 kl you pay R4,56 per kl, the next 20 kl, R5,81
per kl, the next 20 kl, R7,07 per kl and for all consumption
more than 60 kl per month you pay R9,12 per kl.
It will perhaps now be appreciated why there is such a big
difference between accounts for winter and summer, especially
for properties where gardens are watered more heavily than the
owner may realise.
The sewerage charge is also based on water used. In a high
consumption scenario, up to 28 kl sewerage is charged for single
residential properties.
Have you recently installed a swimming pool, a new irrigation
system or carried out extensions to your home? These may
significantly increase your consumption, if not managed properly.
If you are convinced that the high water account is not due to
high water consumption, then the following possibilities should
be investigated.
Is it due to high pressure?
Pressure in the reticulation network is a given, but failed pressurereducing valves on hot water cylinders will result in an unnoticed
leak to the nearby gutter via the drain pipe of the valve.
Worn tap washers will leak at a higher rate with high pressure,
which will contribute to the high account.
It is important to know that the plumbing beyond the meter is
your responsibility and should be maintained by the owner of
the property.
Remember that a fast drip, that will fill a 340 ml cooldrink can in
one minute, will add 14 kilolitres to your account in a month.
At the maximum tariff it is R145,56 incl. VAT.
How would I find out if my high
account is the result of leakage?
Ensure that all taps are off and no water is being consumed.
Wait at least half an hour to allow for cisterns or geysers to fill
up and then watch the dial of your water meter. If the register is
moving, it means water is running to waste and usually means a
leak, very often an underground leak.
If, however, your meter is locked under cover on the footway,
the District Water Inspector will, on request, carry out this test
for you, and be available for advice on internal private plumbing
problems.
If leaks are discovered, a licensed plumber should repair these,
unless the repairs are of minor nature such as changing a washer.
Saving water is a way of life
Can the meter be read incorrectly?
Certainly, because of the human error factor. However, the
computer will highlight a consumption where such consumption
is out of character with the normal pattern for that period and
this will then be investigated.
Should an incorrect reading result in you being billed for a higher
or lower quantity than was actually consumed, this will be
adjusted in the following account.
Is my meter accurate?
Accuracy of water meters, used in the municipal area, comply
to relevant legislation and carry a SABS mark to certify that it
was approved and conforms to the manufacturing standards
and accuracy.
A water meter is a mechanical device. Normal use leads to the
wear on the internal parts of the meter, which over the years
wear out so that it tends to run slow and to under-register the
quantity consumed. This means that if you, for example, use
100 litres and the meter registers only 95 litres (if the meter is
5% slow). Remember the neighbour with whom you compared
accounts? The reason his account is smaller may be because
his meter is under-registering his consumption.
It is almost impossible for a water meter to register a higher
than actual consumption. However, should any consumer be
dissatisfied with the quantity of water for which he has been
billed, arrangements will, on payment of a prescribed fee, be
made for the meter to be tested at the municipal workshops.
A new meter is installed and remains in place whether the old
meter is found to be accurate or not.
Is my consumption ever estimated?
If the meter cannot be read for any reason such as the gate to
the property being locked, the consumption for the period will be
based on that for the corresponding period of the previous year.