Last week's judgment against the installation of prepaid water meters in Phiri is being scrutinised by the City's lawyers, and an appeal is in the offing.

The City sought to prevent the leakage of water by upgrading infrastructure in places like Dlamini township

JOHANNESBURG has postponed its programme to install prepaid water meters in Phiri township, in Soweto. This comes after the Johannesburg high court ruled that the "forced" installation of the prepayment water meter system in the township by Joburg Water without a choice of available water supply was unlawful and unconstitutional.

Judge Moroa Tsoka made the ruling on Wednesday, 30 April.

The installation of prepaid water meters is part of the City's R880-million project to upgrade its water infrastructure, so cutting the number of leaks and the resulting waste of water. Known as Operation Gcin'amanzi, the project has already saved Johannesburg more than 52 000 megalitres of water.

The City spokesperson, Virgil James, says, "The introduction of prepaid water meters in 2001 has resulted in a reduction of unaccounted-for water loss from 40 percent to 32 percent in 2007."

James says the legal teams of the City and Joburg Water were studying the judgment, with the aim of appealing it. "While the legal process is taking place, the City appeals to residents to refrain from removing meters as this is likely to cause damage and widespread costly water leaks."

Judgment
In his judgment, Tsoka set aside the City's free basic water provision of six kilolitres of water per household per month in the township.

"The City of Johannesburg, alternatively Johannesburg Water, is ordered to provide each applicant and other similarly placed residents of Phiri township with a free basic water supply of 50 litres per person per day and the option of a metered supply installed at the cost of the City of Johannesburg," he ruled.

For the past fours years, Phiri residents have been embroiled in a bitter wrangle with the City over the installation of prepaid water systems. The meters automatically switch off the water supply once the free limit of water is used up.

But the City maintains that the meters have helped residents understand the value of saving the precious natural resource. "This has enabled residents to manage their consumption and many households now use less than their free water allocation, thus paying nothing for water services," James says.

Before the meters were installed, residents paid a flat rate of R149 a month for six kilolitres of water. However, following the introduction of the prepaid meter system, many households in Phiri have been forced to buy additional water credits once their free limit of six kilolitres is used up.

The Phiri community took Johannesburg City to court in December 2007 to challenge its installation of prepaid water meters.

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