KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Municipality is ready to implement the next phase of the Water Management Device (WMD) roll-out.

A new contractor, Ikapa Reticulation and Flow, has been appointed to install 10 000 new water meter units in all wards of the greater municipal area over a three-year period.

Knysna Municipal Manager Dawid Adonis said the project promotes upliftment and job creation in the area. 

"Locals from the various wards will be trained to install these devices. Each field worker will be provided with an identification card and branded uniform. The ID card contains the name and picture of the field worker, as well as the logo of both the municipality and the service provider," he said.

According to Adonis, there are still many households where water meters had never been installed, and many more with faulty meters or leaks.

"Leaks not only waste water, but can result in huge charges and accrued debt. These sophisticated systems will prevent this from happening. Incorrect readings can also lead to a loss of revenue, while this pay-as-you-go approach ensures that all users are charged equally for their water usage," he said.

New water meters for Knysna residents.

Adonis said with all ward councillors in support of the next phase, the next switch-over phase will be more streamlined, implementing lessons learnt from the previous roll-out.

"The removal of old meters, installation of WMDs and their activation will commence in less than a week. A roll-out project plan will be communicated to residents before the new phase kicks off," he said. Indigent consumers will still receive their 6kl of water per month, with other users receiving 3kl per month.

"Once the monthly allocated water has been used, more units may be purchased in the same way that prepaid electricity is currently bought. It is a prime example of putting the power in the hands of the people," said Adonis.

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