eThekwini residents with high water bills urged to approach City
A local legal expert says eThekwini residents who've received unusually high water bills must approach the city and resolve the matter amicably.
Newswatch has recently received a string of complaints from residents that have been slapped with additional charges they know nothing about.
The eThekwini Municipality announced last month that the water bills for at least 49 000 households were adjusted.
It's over an error in the application of six kilolitres of free basic water to some households.
Sunil Singh from Sunil Singh and Associates says once the bills are reported the process will include water meters being tested by private experts.
Once the meter is tested the City should make correct adjustments.
"Your case will be dependent firstly if you got a water leak on your property, you will have water loss insurance but that only covers a small portion of that amount the balance will still be liable.
"If there is no water leak and if your metre is not faulty then you are to have a problem with convincing the court that you don't have a water leak and you have not used this water and my meter is not faulty so I am be liable for this money. It would be a difficult challenge for the court."
Meanwhile, disgruntled Trenance Park residents are demanding answers from eThekwini municipality again over a prolonged water supply disruption affecting some parts of Verulam, north of Durban.
Some 800 community members took to streets yesterday, with some saying they haven’t had water for around 80 days.
Kovillan Naidoo who is with the Trenance Park New Phase Civic Association says the matter was brought to the council’s attention last year.
"There has been no remedy to the situation. Residents are totally fed up, they have taken to the streets. The haven't received water for the last 80 days. That means over the festive season there has been no water."
