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(ii) The Clermont household data refer to a sample of formal and less
formal dwellings. A mean occupancy of two people per room was
found in the survey, which implies a mean daily per capita
(household) water consumption of approximately 28 t (based on
individual sample stand data). The data however, refer more
specifically to daily consumption per room and per stand, and not per
capita. The consumption data for shops do not include attached
rooms. An overall estimate (excluding the number of rooms), was
provided for schools. Survey data showed that the mean number of
rooms per stand in sewered areas was 30% less than in nonsewered
areas. The mean daily consumption per room in sewered
areas was some 2,5 times higher than in non-sewered areas,
reflecting a higher standard of living. The mean number of rooms per
stand (all types of dwellings) was 9,6. On an holistic basis,
consumption for sample stands connected to water only, averaged
a very low 384 t day-1, with a more realistic 970 t day-1 for fully
serviced plots. Considerable differences in consumption were
evident where bulk water volumes supplied to reservoirs were used
as the basis for consumption calculations. For example, daily
(household) per capita consumption based on reservoir data was
65 t, with a figure of 130 t per room, or a very high figure of
1 250 t per stand (formal and less formal dwellings). Similar
discrepancies have been found in many black townships in
NatallKwaZulu. Bosch and Associates of Durban (quoted in the J.C.
Theron Burke and lsaac report), in a study of Umlazi, observed that
only one third of the bulk water supplied was registered as being
consumed. Differences were mainly ascribed to leaks, with faulty
water meters and the incorrect reading thereof also apparent.
Revenue losses are due to non-payment or sporadic payment only.
Even where payment is undertaken on a regular basis, the monies
collected may not reflect .true consumption (as explained above).
Callstherefore for upgraded services whereupon regular payment will
commence, may to some extent backfire since meters will be
repaired and properly monitored - assuming that conventional
metering is the most suitable payment option *. Equity should
result where major leaks are repaired and the payment load across
the whole township is uniformly applied**. It follows that
increased delivery efficiency, proper billing procedures and accessible
payment points are essential.
Prepayment (as already undertaken for electricity), is a possibility. See, Simes, C.E., Lings. R.J. and
Tshivhase, T., 1994. Prepayment water metering for South Africa, WRC Report No. KV 56/94, Water
Research Commission, Pretoria, 26 p.
A popular (although alarming) overview of the extent of the services debt of many black townships
in South Africa, and possible consequences, is the following: Brink, A., 1994. The freebie timebomb,
You. No. 376, 29 December 1994, p. 80 - 81. It is to be sincerely hoped that the Masakhane
campaign (discussed later in the chapter) is successful. See also, Rogerson, C.M., 1996. Willingness
to pay for water: the international debates, Water SA, VOL 22(4), p. 373 - 380.