Keetmans faces water restrictions

RESIDENTS at Keetmanshoop owe the municipality N$8 million in outstanding water bills, making it difficult for the town council to pay its bulk water account.

This was revealed by Keetmanshoop Mayor Simon Petrus Tiboth at a community meeting at the southern town on Tuesday. He warned residents that NamWater would cut off the town’s water supply if the situation worsened.The town council has increased the interest charged on arrears from six per cent to 15 per cent.Tiboth said this was necessary because the council paid the same interest rate on late payments to the bulk supplier.He noted that the council had not increased water tariffs this year despite a 12 per cent increase by NamWater.But the mayor was quick to warn the residents that annual increases would become unavoidable in future unless they improved their payment record.The council has reduced the tariff for refuse removal from N$60 to N$45 for pensioners.All residents whose water supply was cut off for more than a month, were offered free reconnection if they sign an agreement to repay the outstanding balance in instalments.He warned residents that NamWater would cut off the town’s water supply if the situation worsened.The town council has increased the interest charged on arrears from six per cent to 15 per cent.Tiboth said this was necessary because the council paid the same interest rate on late payments to the bulk supplier.He noted that the council had not increased water tariffs this year despite a 12 per cent increase by NamWater.But the mayor was quick to warn the residents that annual increases would become unavoidable in future unless they improved their payment record.The council has reduced the tariff for refuse removal from N$60 to N$45 for pensioners.All residents whose water supply was cut off for more than a month, were offered free reconnection if they sign an agreement to repay the outstanding balance in instalments.