TLU SA objects to forced, expensive water meters for irrigation farmers.
TLU SA today strongly objected to an announcement on the installation of obligatory water measuring devices for irrigation farmers, in an official letter to the Minister of Water Affairs and Sanitation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu.
The notice was published in the Government Gazette on 17 January 2020 and gives farmers thirty days to install these devices, at their own cost. Any water users who are not members of a State Water Scheme or Water Users Association must install the meters. According to the department, the purpose is to ensure the sustainability of water use in South Africa because the demand for water is higher than the available supply.
“TLU SA agrees that the monitoring of water use in the country should be better,” says Mr Steven Vermaak, the chairperson of TLU SA’s Water Affairs Committee. “The delay in establishing Water User Associations is, however, a more pressing matter which should be prioritised. It will contribute to manage the use of water more efficiently. In our correspondence, we asked the installation of water measuring devices to be postponed until these associations are set up.”
A single 50mm water meter which adheres to the specifications set out by the department, costs around R18 000, but the bigger the in- and outlet, the more expensive it gets. The water used for irrigation is of such poor quality that farmers will have to install filters as well, pushing the cost up even more. Some irrigation farmers will have to install ten or more devices.
Farmers also have to keep monthly water measurement records under specified regulations and submit it to the department.
“The measurement of water use is the responsibility of the state and not that of the water user,” says Mr Vermaak. “The authorities are doing an abysmal job of managing the use of water. On top of that, there aren’t even enough water meters in the country to complete this task.”
“TLU SA believes that the Water User Associations will play an essential role to solve the dispute between TLU SA members and the department, concerning the payment of invoices,” says Mr Vermaak. “It will also contribute to shortening the existing, long line of communication and solving problems related to water delivery accounts faster.”
The department has thus far failed in processing various applications for the establishment of Water User Associations, even though some of these applications were made more than five years ago.
TLU SA maak kapsie teen verpligte, duur watermeters vir besproeiingsboere
TLU SA het vandag in ‘n amptelike brief aan die Minister van Waterwese en Sanitasie, me. Lindiwe Sisulu, kapsie gemaak teen ‘n kennisgewing oor die verpligte installering van watermeters vir besproeiingsboere.
Die kennisgewing is op 17 Januarie 2020 in die Staatskoerant gepubliseer en gee aan boere dertig dae om die meters op eie onkoste te installeer. Enige watergebruikers wat nie lede van ‘n besproeiingsraad of watergebruikersvereniging is nie, moet die watermeters installeer. Die doel daarvan is, volgens die departement, om die volhoubaarheid van watergebruik in Suid-Afrika te verseker omdat die vraag na water in die land die beskikbaarheid daarvan oorskry.
“TLU SA stem saam dat watergebruik in die land beter gemonitor moet word,” sê mnr. Steven Vermaak, die voorsitter van TLU SA se Waterkomitee. “Maar die gesloer met die vestiging van watergebruikersverenigings is ‘n meer drukkende saak wat eers aandag moet kry en sal bydra om die gebruik van water meer effektief te bestuur. Ons het in die skrywe versoek dat die installering van meters dus uitgestel moet word totdat hierdie verenigings gevestig kan word.”
‘n Enkele 50mm-watermeter wat aan die spesifikasies soos deur die departement bepaal voldoen, beloop sowat R18 000, maar hoe groter die in- en uitlaat, hoe duurder word die meter. Die kwaliteit van die water waarmee besproei word, is ook van so aard dat filters aangebring moet word, wat die koste nog verder sal opstoot. Sommige besproeiingsboere sal tien of meer meters moet aanbring.
Daar word verder van boere verwag om maandeliks die lesings van die meters te neem en dit in ‘n voorgeskrewe formaat aan die departement te stuur.
“Die meting van watergebruik is die verantwoordelikheid van die staat en nie van die watergebruikers nie,” sê mnr. Vermaak. “Die owerhede kwyt hulle baie swak van die taak om watergebruik te bestuur. Daar is bowenal nie eers genoeg watermeters in die land beskikbaar, om aan hierdie opdrag te voldoen nie.
“TLU SA is van mening dat die watergebruikersverenigings ook ‘n belangrike rol kan speel om die dispuut tussen TLU SA-lede en die departement oor die betaling van fakture, op te los,” sê mnr. Vermaak. “Dit sal ook bydra om die bestaande, lang kommunikasielyn te verkort en om probleme met waterlewering rekeninge vinniger op te los.”
Verskeie aansoeke vir die vestiging van watergebruikersverenigings is nog nie deur die departement verwerk nie, hoewel sommige van die aansoeke al meer as vyf jaar gelede ingedien is.
