Watervermorsing - kyk na die syfers | Netwerk24
Watervermorsing - kyk na die syfers
Ek sien DistriksPos het berig dat Somerset-Wes, onder andere, mors met water (“Residents urged to tighten belt even more”, 2 Februarie). Ek neem aan die informele nedersettings is hier uitgesluit?
Waar bly die 20 000 “morsers” – wat die Stad Kaapstad van weet – wat in jul berig genoem word? Die antwoord was onlangs in die Cape Times.
Hoeveel watermorsers weet die Stad nie van nie, omdat hul nie formele adresse het nie of dis te gevaarlik vir stadsamptenare om daar in te gaan, en dit vir polities “korrekte” redes onder die mat gevee word? Wanneer gaan die Stad wakker skrik? Ek skat, òf wanneer die water opraak òf wanneer hulle uit ander mense se geld uit raak, wat ook al eerste gebeur.
Ek self het hierdie watervermorsing aangemeld. Dit het vir weke so gelek, maar die locals het niks gedoen nie. Hoekom nie, dit het net ’n SMS gevat om dit aan te meld en almal het selfone deesdae.
Van vandag af gaan ek dit my missie maak, met foto’s en videos, om diegene wat eintlik water (en krag) mors uit te lig. Hoeveel geld het die Stad die afgelope jare afgeskryf as sogenaamde oninbare skulde?
Dis in die mens se natuur om nie te spaar op dit wat jy verniet kry nie, veral nie as dit gesubsidieer word deur getroue betalers wat dit self nie durf waag om betaling terug te hou nie, anders word hulle onmiddellik afgesny.
Hoeveel water is 20 000 x 50 000 liter? Dis baie meer as die hoeveelheid waarmee die Stad se limiet oorskry is die afgelope maande. Hul argument dat hulle ten minste ’n ekstra R254 miljoen se inkomste gekry het van diegene wat water mors is absurd.
Die vermorsing deur die 20 000 het verdere beperkings veroorsaak en almal (wat wel betaal) moet nou meer betaal. Al diegene wat water mors moet aan die pen ry, nie net sekere maklike teikens in ons gemeenskappe nie.
Politiese sogenaamde “korrektheid” in die naam van nie stemme verloor nie en common sense, meng glad nie.
Xanthea Limberg, Mayoral Committee member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services, and Energy, responds: It is unfortunate that the writer was misled by the fundamentally inaccurate article in the Cape Times – inaccuracies for which they later apologised. In terms of total water produced by the City, 4,7% is used in informal settlements. Formal houses use approximately 64,8% of the potable water supplied by the City. An average informal household is about three times more water-efficient than an average formal household. The full usage breakdown is as follows: houses 55,6%; flats and complexes 9,2%; informal settlements 4,7%; retail and offices 11%; industry 3,9%; City-owned facilities and City departments 5,1%; and other 10,5%. Nevertheless the City is also troubled by the apathy that a handful of residents (informal or formal) have shown to the water restrictions. We are directing resources into raising awareness in all areas. Excessive water wastage occurs in many formal homes, although it may not be as visible. Watering gardens, long showers, baths, half-full dishwashers, leaking toilets and washing clothes too often are no less wasteful. Leaking pipes often go unreported in formal areas as well. Wherever you live, there is something more we can all do to save more. The next point that needs clarification is that the City justifies inaction against high water users by pointing to the extra rates income they have provided. This is not the case. The City does not want extra money; it wants residents to save water. We are now cracking down on the highest water users and unless they reduce their consumption, they will have their water supply limited. We must all concentrate on ensuring that we do our bit by saving water or reporting transgressors of the restrictions. To report a contravention, email water.restrictions@capetown.gov.za