How to manage water billing in sectional title schemes

Many densely-populated areas of South Africa are under strain when it comes to water supply.

Sectional title scheme trustees will have to reassess recouping costs for water as this will mean an extra amount will be payable by each resident within their scheme (around R53) in addition to their usual water consumption and sanitation bill.

Water tariffs are calculated on a sliding scale - the more used, the higher the tariff, which makes it important to scrutinise water bills carefully so that the correct amounts are recouped from each member.

The installation of prepaid or sub-metered water meters will possibly be the answer to help monitor these amounts if this has not already been done, as this will help eliminate abuse and incorrect calculations.

It might be worthwhile sending out a 'round-robin' notice to all residents reminding residents of the water restrictions, which includes the following:

- No hosing down of paved surfaces with municipal drinking water.

- No irrigation/watering with municipal drinking water allowed.

- No washing of vehicles, trailers, caravans or boats with municipal drinking water. They must be washed with non-drinking water or cleaned with waterless products or dry-steam cleaning processes.

- Private swimming pools may not be topped up or filled with municipal drinking water.

- Use of portable play pools prohibited.

- Water features may not use municipal drinking water.

As it seems likely we will be going into the next summer with the same water restrictions, and we need to encourage residents to be more careful with how they use water. During times of short water supply, water usage needs to be more strictly managed and everyone has to do their part.