August 11, 2005
By Lucky Sindane
OPERATION Gcin'amanzi, Johannesburg Water's multi-million rand project to replace Soweto's decaying water infrastructure, has already saved more than four billion litres of the city's water.
A tour assessing the state of the project was held this week, outlining the successes of the programme.
So far "over 21 000 households have been installed with free-pay water meters", according to Jameel Chand, Joburg Water's spokesperson.
A free-pay meter works by allowing the first six kilolitres of water to be used free. The household is then charged for any more water it uses.
The five-year project began in September 2003. It is aimed at cutting water loss - about seven billion litres a month in Soweto - and establishing a reliable, affordable service to greater Soweto.
In the pilot project, in Phiri, leaking pipes and broken taps were replaced and free-pay meters were installed.
"The water supply to each stand has dropped from 66 000 litres per month per stand to about 11 000 per month per stand," Chand said.
Free water
Phiri pensioner Martha Radebe, who owns a tavern, does not consume more than the basic six kilolitres of free water each month. "The free-pay water system is working for me," she said.
"I don't consume a lot of water. I always use the 6 000 litres of free water every month. When I do buy water, I only pay R20 - and that's once in a while."
About 57 percent of customers in the area used more than the basic water allocation, according to Lesego Lebuso, Joburg Water's new services delivery department divisional manager.
"Average water consumption and payment levels are that 57 percent of customers are using more than the free six kilolitres basic water allocation and are only spending R40,56 per month."
According to Johannesburg Water, in terms of current assessment methods, each household is deemed to use 20 000 litres of water. This does not include the 6 000 litres of free water for each household, which is a national policy.
After the pilot project, free-pay meters were installed in Dlamini. Other areas in Soweto are also expected to be included.
Education
Johannesburg Water has employed more than 365 community facilitators in the affected areas. They go door-to-door to educate residents before the free-pay meters are installed.
"In super-block three, which covers Naledi, Mapetla and Jabavu, we managed to install about 7 000 free-pay meters," said Chand.
In these areas, 96 percent of the residents signed agreements to have free-pay meters installed in their homes.
"With any project you carry out you will not get a 100 percent response. But those who refuse later come back to us and ask us to install free-pay water meters in their homes," Chand added.
Operation Gcin'amanzi will now move to Chiawelo, Dlamini, Protea South, parts of Emdeni, Jabulani, Zondi, Doornkop, Zola and Meadowlands.
"The door-to-door education campaign has already started in these areas and 85 percent of the residents want free-pay water meters," Lebuso said.
"We want to install about 162 000 free-pay water meters by the end of this project."
Chand said Johannesburg Water was committed to controlling "Joburg's liquid gold" better and to improving service delivery in general.
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