21 Nov 2017

The Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services is in the  process of procuring services for the implementation of Smart Water Metering which will among other things entail prepayment of water.

Answering a parliamentary question on November 20, assistant minister Mr Itumeleng Moipisi said the project also entailed the procurement of metres that would have passed the test during piloting adding that they envisaged to span over five years effective from November 2017.

Regarding the  plumbing and pipe laying/construction activities for water reticulation, Mr Moipisi said  they were done through various projects such as land servicing, network rehabilitation and expansions.

He said  the projects were mostly outsourced to various companies.

The assistant minister said Water Utilities Corporation mostly carried out maintenance of pipes and private water connections which also included customers carrying out laying of pipes themselves.

Minister Moipisi further explained that Water Utilities Corporation was a parastatals under his Ministry with effect from October 1, 2016.

MP Samuel Rantuana had asked the minister why Water Utilities Corporation did not outsource plumbing and pipe laying for water reticulation as the company did not have capacity to do so and if Water Utilities Corporation was under his ministry.

The MP had also wanted the minister to state when Water Utilities Corporation intended to introduce pre-paid water metres. ENDS