By Dirk Groenewald – Executive Director: MidCity Utilities

Water is essential to life, but it is also becoming one of our most scarce and valuable resources.

As populations grow and climate change intensifies, the availability of fresh water is dwindling, turning it into an increasingly significant expense for households, businesses, and industries.

Managing water usage efficiently is no longer just a matter of environmental responsibility—it’s a financial necessity.

In this article we explore how water scarcity impacts costs and provides practical tips on conserving water to reduce expenses and protect this vital resource for future generations.

What are the types of water leaks?

• Damaged piping inside a living unit, after the water meter.
• Toilet mechanism that keeps flushing.
• Leaking taps and sprinkler systems.
• Washing machines with faulty valves or washers.
• Swimming pool leaks / Top-up of swimming pool.
• Geyser leaks, piping, and overflow.
• Common property piping and infrastructure.
• Common property water meters that are faulty, not recording water usage can leave water leaks undetected.

Water Usage and Responsibility in Community Living:

• The water being used from the meter to the house is for the owner’s account.
• Water leaks between the meter and house is the responsibility of the resident / owner.
• Water leaks and usage between the bulk municipal meter and a residential water meter, is the responsibility of the HOA / Body Corporate, in most instances.
• Water leaks should be reported and addressed immediately to prevent excessive water billing.

Know and understand your water meter and readings:

There are different types of water meters, but essentially they all work on the same basis and principle.

Looking at the above meter and reading, we will take down the readings of the first five.

The white digits meter the kilolitre usage. 1 (One) kilolitre is equal to 1000 (Thousand) litres.

The digits in the red are normally not taken down for meter reading and billing purposes.

The owner or tenant can use the movement on the right/red, to monitor their usage or test for leaks whilst they are at home.

Billing of water consumption is done monthly. The previous meter reading is subtracted from the current meter reading to obtain the month’s actual consumption. The consumption for the period or number of days is then applied against the relevant municipal tariffs and structures and billed accordingly.

Water usage of households differ, depending on the number of occupants of a household and if there is a garden/swimming pool. The average water usage of a normal household, without a swimming pool or garden, is 16 kl per month.

Do you suspect a water leak?

If you believe the water usage is too high, check the current reading on the meter. If the red digits are constantly moving, you may have a water leak.

• Best done when there are limited people at home.
• Make sure no one is using water during the time of the leak test.
• Take reading on the water meter, take a photo.
• Wait fifteen to thirty minutes.
• Check water meter reading.
• If the water meter reading moved on during that time, it is an indication that there is a possible water leak or appliances that have leaks.
• We suggest that this test be done daily over a week period to confirm possible water leak.
• Should the meter have moved on considerably, immediate action is to be taken to do a leak detection by the owner, to limit the water usage/wastage.

Normal problem areas to be investigated first are:

• Leaking toilets
• Leaking taps inside and outside
• Sprinkler systems
• Geyser overflows
• Green or wet spots in garden or around house

Services of a private plumber should be obtained to investigate and fix internal leaks to prevent increasing cost and billing.

By staying proactive, you can manage your water usage effectively and ensure a sustainable approach to this precious resource.