[ad_1]
The city said the rates were currently at Tier 1 and were based on projected usage trends so that the revenue received would cover the cost of providing water services.
CAPE TOWN – Cape Town has been criticized for failing to lower water rates even though dam levels are above 95%.
Costatu and Good Party have raised concerns about the city’s decision and want the municipality to re-evaluate the water rates.
The city said the rates were currently at Tier 1 and were based on projected usage trends so that the revenue received would cover the cost of providing water services.
As Zero Day approached, the city raised water rates to help pay for various interventions.
Now, with dam levels at very healthy levels, Cosatu in the Western Cape wants a decrease in rates.
The union said residents were already suffering and struggling to survive due to the economic impact of COVID-19.
And Brett Herron of the Good Party said it was immoral to punish taxpayers at a time when they could least afford it by continuing to charge what were actually drought surcharges, when the dams were almost full.
“The Cape Town city council must re-evaluate the water rates and it must also re-evaluate its water plan because its water plan is no longer relevant because the costs of desalination have far outweighed the benefits.”
Mayco member of Water and Waste Services Xanthea Limberg said the city relied on revenue from tariffs to provide basic services like water.
“The fee covers the cost of purchasing water in bulk, treating the water, delivering the water to people’s homes and businesses, and maintaining the entire infrastructure.”
He added that the infrastructure included the water, stormwater and sewerage networks and pumping stations.
“Maintenance costs for these remain largely the same regardless of the amount of water that passes through them or the amount of water in the Department of Water and Sanitation dams.”
Limberg said rates could be lowered if more water was sold, but that the market was constrained by a constant need to conserve water due to unpredictable future rains.
Download the EWN app on your iOS or Android device.
[ad_2]
