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Water in South Africa Part 2

WATER IN SOUTH AFRICA – PART 2

By Dirk Groenewald, Executive MidCity Utilities

Stage 2 Water Restrictions Implemented: Tshwane and Johannesburg

South Africa is classified as a water scarce country. We rank as one of the thirty driest countries in the world, with an average rainfall of about 40% less than the annual world average rainfall.

Apart from South Africa being a water scarce country, there are other factors that also contribute to pressure on our water availability.

  • Infrastructure failures (pipes, pumps, storage, water purification plants)
  • Low or no maintenance
  • Growing population
  • Water wastage
  • Mismanagement by responsible parties
  • Pollution

Stage 2 water restrictions entail the following with immediate effect:

  • Do not irrigate or water gardens with a hosepipe or irrigation system
  • Do not use a hosepipe to clean driveways or patios
  • Do not wash vehicles with a hosepipe
  • Do not fill or top up swimming pools or water features

Stage 2 water restrictions also bring into effect the implementation of level 2 water tariffs.

To avoid reservoirs running dry, resulting in water shortages and subsequent water supply interruptions, all consumers are urged to assist by decreasing their water consumption and continuing to use water sparingly.

Water saving tips:

  • Only flush toilet when necessary.
  • Flush with greywater only (water previously used for laundry or shower)
  • Take short, start-stop showers. Wet your body, turn off the tap, lather and rinse quickly.
  • Do not let taps run for too long or at full flow. Use a cup when shaving, brushing teeth, etc.
  • Place a large container in your shower to capture water for use in toilets.
  • Only wash what is absolutely necessary.
  • Wait for a full load before running washing machines and dishwashers.
  • Reuse water to flush toilets.
  • Use a broom to clean hard outdoor surfaces and not water from a hosepipe.
  • Do not use municipal drinking water for pools, ponds or water features. Fit a pool cover and/or harvest rainwater if possible.

Report water leaks, burst pipes and water abuse to your relevant Municipality, Managing Agent or responsible agency.

For any assistance, investigations and explanations, please contact MidCity Utilities.    

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How can I purchase pre-paid electricity?

By making use of one of the following:

  • MidCity Utilities App

  • MidCity Utilities Website

  • Internet Banking

  • Unipin vouchers
  • Unipin vouchers can be purchased at registered retailers, garages and other suppliers.
  • When providing your pre-paid meter number to the cashier, the pre-paid purchase will transfer over to the meter automatically.

  • If you do not provide your meter number to the cashier and you receive the voucher slip, you must follow the steps as set out thereon.

  • Make sure you are using the correct meter number.
  • After registering with MidCity Utilities for pre-paid electricity, our Customer Care Personnel will SMS you your meter number.

  • When you register for the Mobile App or on our website, you will also be able to see your meter number.

  • Clients who also request to receive monthly statements, even though they are on pre-paid, will be able to see their meter number on their monthly statement.

  • Contact our Customer Care Personnel.
  • Log in to either our Mobile App or website.

  • SMS the word Balance (space) meter number to 37823. You will receive an SMS with your meter balance and predicted zero balance date.

  • Use your keypad, if you have one.
  • Yes. A low balance notification will be sent to the registered cell phone number that is loaded onto our system.

  • The low balance notification will be sent 48 hours before the calculated depletion date.

  • The depletion date received on the low balance notification, Mobile App or website is an estimation and depends on a client’s consumption habits and changes.

Mobile App or Website

  • The final step in the process on the Mobile App or website will indicate if the transaction was successful.

  • Transfer of credits to the meter can take approximately 10 minutes after the purchase is completed successfully.

  • On the Mobile App, website or SMS balance enquiry, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to update the effective current balance after a purchase was made.

Internet Banking

  • Confirmation of transaction is provided by your banking service.

  • You will receive an SMS or email with the value of the token as well as the 20-digit code already loaded on your meter.

  • Purchases through Internet Banking can take approximately 30 minutes to transfer over to the meter.

  • On the Mobile App, website or SMS balance enquiry, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to update the effective current balance after a purchase was made.

Unipin voucher

  • After following the process reflected on the voucher with your cell phone, you will receive confirmation and notification on your device.

  • Purchases through Unipin vouchers can take approximately 30 minutes to transfer over to the meter.

  • On the Mobile App, website or SMS balance enquiry, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to update the effective current balance after a purchase was made.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How can I purchase pre-paid electricity?

By making use of one of the following:

  • MidCity Utilities App
  • MidCity Utilities Website
  • Internet Banking
  • Unipin vouchers
Where can I buy a Unipin voucher?
  • Unipin vouchers can be purchased at registered retailers, garages and other suppliers.
How do I load a Unipin voucher?
  • When providing your pre-paid meter number to the cashier, the pre-paid purchase will transfer over to the meter automatically.
  • If you do not provide your meter number to the cashier and you receive the voucher slip, you must follow the steps as set out thereon.
  • Make sure you are using the correct meter number.
Where do I get my meter number/meter serial number?
  • After registering with MidCity Utilities for pre-paid electricity, our Customer Care Personnel will SMS you your meter number.
  • When you register for the Mobile App or on our website, you will also be able to see your meter number.
  • Clients who also request to receive monthly statements, even though they are on pre-paid, will be able to see their meter number on their monthly statement.
  • Contact our Customer Care Personnel.
How do I see what my meter balance is?
  • Log in to either our Mobile App or website.
  • SMS the word Balance (space) meter number to 37823. You will receive an SMS with your meter balance and predicted zero balance date.
  • Use your keypad, if you have one.
Will I receive low balance warnings or notifications?
  • Yes. A low balance notification will be sent to the registered cell phone number that is loaded onto our system.
  • The low balance notification will be sent 48 hours before the calculated depletion date.
  • The depletion date received on the low balance notification, Mobile App or website is an estimation and depends on a client’s consumption habits and changes.
How do I know that credit has been loaded?

Mobile App or Website

  • The final step in the process on the Mobile App or website will indicate if the transaction was successful.
  • Transfer of credits to the meter can take approximately 10 minutes after the purchase is completed successfully.
  • On the Mobile App, website or SMS balance enquiry, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to update the effective current balance after a purchase was made.

Internet Banking

  • Confirmation of transaction is provided by your banking service.
  • You will receive an SMS or email with the value of the token as well as the 20-digit code already loaded on your meter.
  • Purchases through Internet Banking can take approximately 30 minutes to transfer over to the meter.
  • On the Mobile App, website or SMS balance enquiry, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to update the effective current balance after a purchase was made.

Unipin voucher

  • After following the process reflected on the voucher with your cell phone, you will receive confirmation and notification on your device.
  • Purchases through Unipin vouchers can take approximately 30 minutes to transfer over to the meter.
  • On the Mobile App, website or SMS balance enquiry, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to update the effective current balance after a purchase was made.
My token is not loading. What do I do?