By Nangamso Mabindla
2 February 2006

BUFFALO City Municipality is putting in place structures to prevent water losses during distribution, the City's director of engineering services, Shaun Peard, said in a council meeting earlier this week.

This follows the report from the Auditor-General (AG) that the city had a relatively large incidence of water loss or non-revenue water. According to AG Singa Ngqwala, this occurred through physical losses such as leaks, billing inaccuracies, users who were not on the database or illegal connections.

The municipality's loss in water distribution increased to R38 310 748 in 2005 from 2004's R36 664 524.

''These results are an unnecessary demand on water resources, wastage of water and loss of income. A comprehensive study has been undertaken and strategies to address these problems are being finalised,'' Ngqwala said.

The City's water service planning section had successfully obtained 27 000 Department of Water Affairs and Forestry sponsored meters.

Addressing council earlier this week Peard said that at least 12 500 of these meters had already been pre-assembled in meter boxes using available funds in the 2004/2005 financial year.

''We are already in a process of installing meter boxes so that we can reduce revenue lost because of water distribution losses. We are looking to cut losses by over 20 percent from 45 percent.''

According to Ngqwala's report to council, 5 000 installed meters could result in a sustained annual reduction of units lost of 8,2 percent.

A pilot study to deal with issues around water revenue losses through domestic leaks was under way. It would also look at how installing meters would cut down on leaks.

''The potential exists that if the desired level of understanding is achieved, adequate funds provided, and if successful, the project outcomes are achieved, a major water loss reduction is possible in a relatively short space of time,'' said Ngqwala.