Locked gates thwart Walvis meter readers

SOME 400 water meters at Walvis Bay are inaccessible to municipal meter readers because they are located inside people’s yards. “When these residents aren’t at home and their yards are locked, we have no way of getting an accurate reading,” municipal communications officer Utaara Hoveka said in a statement.

These residents’ water consumption is then estimated based on previous accounts. “When we finally do get an actual reading, these people are unhappy because they have paid too much or too little,” said Hoveka.Although the problem exists all over Walvis Bay, it is mostly found at premises close to the town centre.People who cannot arrange for their meters to be read during the day are encouraged to take their own readings to the municipality.”Relocating all these meters to place them outside the yards would not be a viable option since it would place a considerable financial burden on the municipality,” said Hoveka.To help solve the problem, developers of new houses are now advised to install water meters outside the yards.The municipality also plans to educate residents through letters and a media campaign to ensure that their water meters are accessible.”When we finally do get an actual reading, these people are unhappy because they have paid too much or too little,” said Hoveka.Although the problem exists all over Walvis Bay, it is mostly found at premises close to the town centre.People who cannot arrange for their meters to be read during the day are encouraged to take their own readings to the municipality.”Relocating all these meters to place them outside the yards would not be a viable option since it would place a considerable financial burden on the municipality,” said Hoveka.To help solve the problem, developers of new houses are now advised to install water meters outside the yards.The municipality also plans to educate residents through letters and a media campaign to ensure that their water meters are accessible.