Central SA
Mangaung residents 'paying for air' as water pipes run dry - VIDEO─── TSHEHLA KOTELI 07:40 Wed, 08 Feb 2023
Residents in the Mangaung Municipality have alleged that their water meters run up the municipal bill even if there isn’t any water coming out of the taps.
A video captured by a resident in Universitas on 2 February 2023 is doing the rounds on social media and shows that during water cuts that day, with no water coming out of the taps, his water meter's units were running up fast.
It seems the problem occurs when water is pumped into the water pipes after water cuts and the air is pushed through the pipes.
Apparently, this "paying for air" is mainly affecting people with prepaid water meters.
On the day in question, power was cut off by Centlec at the Maselspoort Water Plant. It is alleged that the video was captured during the time water was being pumped to both the Hamilton and Arboretum reservoirs and water levels remained low. Certain Bloemfontein residents spent at least three days without water.
The Mangaung Metro Municipality has not replied to an enquiry about the issue.
ALSO READ: Taps run dry in City of Roses
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