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Buffalo City Municipality says its recent notice to residents about registering their rainwater tanks, was not an attempt to make money out of them.
In a statement on Monday, Buffalo City spokesperson Samnkelo Ngwenya said they had noticed an increase in the number of residents installing water tanks and finding other water sources, which the City encourages.
However, he said this needed to “be properly managed or else it can be a hazard.”
He said the Municipality’s interest in residential tanks was more on those who have connected to the Municipal water supply.
Ngwenya said this needed to be inspected by their Water Inspectors to ensure that there was no contamination of municipal water by untreated rainwater from the tanks.
“This is a basic control measure,” he said.
“Though there is a provision in the Bylaw for issuing fines against those that do not comply, the Municipality has no intention of charging people and making money out of their water tanks,” he added.
Ngwenya said the Municipal notice was also consistent with a by-law on the “Availability Charges for water services”, which, among others, allows the Municipality to impose a monthly fixed charge; an annual fixed charge, or a once-off fixed charge in addition to the charges determined for water services provided and used.
“We are calling on all residents to follow through this simple disclosure/registration process in their intention to sink/drill a well, boreholes, and rainwater tanks in their properties,” he said.
An NPO, the Centre for Local Community Rights posted online that it was advising property owners that it had requested its attorneys to engage with the Municipality on the matter.
It further advises them to consider waiting until the issue is resolved with BCM before submitting their applications.
Ngwenya said their doors remain open for any enquires or clarity on the matter.
