It consists of a water management device, which is installed in a house, and a central control team in the City administration that regulates the functioning of these devices with the help of a computer.

This system is expected to help customers save water and manage their monthly water bills, and it will help the City to manage debt. It will also help residents to identify any leaks and have them fixed, instead of running up a huge water bill and then being unable to pay.

The water management device measures out a specific supply of water on a daily basis, at the pressure and flow rate to which households have become accustomed.

It allows residents to receive their free 6 kilolitre portion of water per month, and it allows them to receive an additional amount according to what they commit to paying.

The device has been set to deliver an average of 350 litres per day or 10.62kl per month (which includes the free 6kl). At this consumption rate, a household's monthly water and sewerage bill will normally be R30.

Those residents registered on the City's indigency database will receive a R30 grant.

Should residents require more water they can commit to pay for that additional water, and the water management device will then be set to a higher maximum flow.

The water management device is set to switch on at a fixed time every morning and will only switch off once the household has used its set quota of water for the day.

If households use less than their quota in a day, the amount not used will be carried over to the next day. For example, if only 250 litres is used in one day, the balance of 100 litres will be carried over to the next day giving a total of 450 litres for that day.

Any unused water quota in one month will not be carried over into the next month, however.

It is illegal for anyone to tamper with the device, and if they do it will automatically shut off. City officials will have to come out and reinstate the water supply and will issue spot fines.

If leaks are identified on a property, the City will come out and fix the leaks free of charge on a once-off basis.

So far the City has repaired leaks and installed water management devices in about 4000 houses.

The City plans to install these devices in all newly built homes, and established residents can also apply to have them installed.

Source: capetown.gov.za