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Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Listen: Here’s why water tariffs are staying, for now, despite dams being full

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City dams are on average nearing the 100% mark, and water consumption has stayed low, following years of water savings efforts from all residents to get through the drought.

But the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste Services Xanthea Limberg says a reduction in current water tariffs will depend on higher consumption.

“It is important that the City cover its costs to ensure that the maintenance and augmentation programmes can be carried out.”

“The current tariffs are for the projections and realities of the 2020/21 financial year. Costs of providing water to the city stay similar, even if residents drastically reduce consumption, and if maintenance is delayed, it can cause much more serious and costly problems down the line.”

Listen to the full explanation here:

Liesl Smit
Liesl Smit
Liesl is the Smile 90.4FM News Manager. She has been at Smile since 2016, with nearly 20 years experience in the radio industry, including reading news, field reporting and producing. In 2008 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award, Western Cape region. liesl@smile904.fm

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