We have not seen a water meter reader in years: Byo residents complain about high water bills

Residents in Ward 2 have accused the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) of lacking credibility by relying on estimates for water meter readings and charging exorbitant rates for services not provided.

Some residents confirmed that it has been years since they had their water meters read and raised concerns that BCC estimates always result in high bills.

Addressing residents at a Billing Debt Collection Credit Policy Outreach Awareness meeting held at Newmansford Primary School on Sunday, IT manager at the BCC Finance Department Mpazamiso Ndebele said there were several reasons why consumers’ bills were too high but also acknowledged that the council used estimates to charge for water consumption.

“We admit that due to a lack of personnel, we fail to take meter readings; sometimes the workers find dogs at the houses, or the gates are locked. We use estimates based on readings from the previous three months to find the average,” he said, adding that some houses had no meters at all so estimates were used as the billing system cannot be left blank.

“Our estimates may be incorrect because they are based on the assumption that there are many people in one household, which will not be the case.”

On the other hand, Ndebele stated that BCC provided 5000 litres of free water to every domestic household.

“You do not have to pay for water if you use less than 5000 litres. Due to water shedding, eastern households are expected to consume or use 650 litres of water per day, or 19.5 kilolitres of water per month. Households in western areas must use 450 litres of water per day, or 13.5 kilolitres per month,” he said.

If households consume more than that, BCC penalises them at ZWL$3 286 per kilolitre, according to Ndebele.

“As part of the rates, residents pay US$21 per acre per month, so if you don’t pay that monthly, it accumulates and you end up paying more for your bill,” said the council official, noting that Bulawayo residents owe BCC a total of ZWL$36 billion while Ward 2 households owe ZWL$1.6 billion.

“Everything being equal, households are to pay an equivalent of US$48 per month for their bills.”

Residents were dissatisfied with BCC’s service delivery, as Chingheno of Dane Road, QueensPark West, stated that his home has been without water for three years but has continued to receive water bills.

“Because of a problem with the pipes, I use a borehole. Although the water meter is in the yard, the station is outside, and the joining line, where the fault is, had broken down, but council workers simply placed a log there and left,” he said, stating he had been referred from office to office over the problem.

“When I wanted to make some improvements to my house, the council refused to grant permission until I cleared my bills, saying how could I afford to extend it if I hadn’t cleared the bill, which I did, and the water bill is still increasing to this day. Perhaps I have to call for a press conference over the issue.”

 Dumisani Ncube of Jarvis Road, echoed the same challenge.

“”For the past four to five years, I have been using borehole water but I continue receiving astronomical water bills. I gave up reporting the matter because some council employees are  arrogant and rude.”  

Another Harrow Road resident said he only lives with his wife and has never seen a meter reader in three years, despite the fact that his bills are so high.

“I noticed that our bill is almost the same as other people with large families, despite the fact that we are only two,” Zwambila said.

Nguruve from Conway Road questioned whether BCC charged penalties for estimated water readings, claiming that due to water rationing, it was impossible to use more than 5000 litres per month.

“We don’t even use the recommended 650 litres per day, and based on my estimates due to water shedding, we don’t even use 5000 litres of free water per month, so where are our water bills coming from? If you are billing us then you are crooks and must refund us,” she said.

Another Pilcher Avenue resident said residents were partly to blame for the mess at BCC because they were unaware of steps to take to put BCC in order while it was “messing lives.”

“Residents can and must sue the council. How can BCC continue charging estimates for water they haven’t even produced?” he wondered.

Boyd Maliki remarked BCC has lost its ethics, which was the cause of all these challenges.

“Some of us now enjoy water from the borehole more than the dirty water we are getting from you. You are charging us to make yourselves comfortable, unlike councilors of yesteryears such as Michael Ndubiwa and Naison Ndlovu who worked for the community,” he said.