Capetonians will have to dig deeper into their pockets after July if plans to scrap the free-water-for-all policy are passed. The city wants to impose a 19.25% tariff hike for both water and sanitation‚ according to its draft budget for the 2017-18 financial year, tabled at a full council meeting on Wednesday. The move comes as the city tries to deal with the severe drought. At present the city gives a monthly 6kl of water to all households. After July‚ only people with houses worth R400,000 and less will get free water. The budget also proposes to discontinue its 4.2kl free sanitation service to properties worth more than R400,000. Even though the city has imposed restrictions‚ this has not stopped Capetonians from over-using water. In her opening speech to the council‚ mayor Patricia de Lille said usable water in city dams was at only 17.3%.
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