By Lerato Ndlovu
CHINHOYI Municipality has reviewed water charges for ratepayers and residents with none functional water meters.
Residents made an outcry in February after receiving estimated water bills that had over fluctuated amounts that ranged above $1 000 for areas that rarely receive or get 20 kiloliters of water per month.
The municipality revised the tariffs for non-functional water meters at a special council meeting. The new and revised tariffs will see high, medium and low density suburb consumers expected to pay an average of $600 and $900 respectively.
Council spokesperson, Mr Tichaona Mlauzi, revealed that the decision which takes effect from January this year, would also see institutions such as schools and crèches being billed using average consumption of the past 12 months while churches will pay for 20 kilolitres.
“High density consumers would be billed 20 kiloliters a month from the approved 50 kiloliters.
“Medium and low density water users will be charged 30 kiloliters while commercial and industrial properties where there are no water metres would be charged depending on the average usage for the past year,” he said.
He added that resident with working water meters will still be billed at a rate of $29 per kiloliter.
Chinhoyi Residents Association Chair Mr Clifford Hlupheko said the association welcomed this move, and urged the citizens to pay their rents in order to ensure that the council stands to its task.
