Water Meter Installation, Cape Town
You can rely on Monster Plumbing to install high-quality water meters across Cape Town.
You will receive a certificate of compliance (COC) as required by the City of Cape Town water bylaws for all water meter installations at New Developments, Business Parks, Sectional Title Schemes, and Commercial Facilities.
A working water meter is a key instrument to measure the number of kilolitres used and the cost of water per kilolitre.
The water meter also helps you identify a leak on your property – especially when the leak isn’t visible and possibly underground. You can confirm a non-visible leak by viewing the water meter reading. If the meter still runs when no taps or toilets are in use, you likely have a water leak somewhere on your property. Calculate your daily water use here with the City of Cape Town Think Water Calculator.
Prepaid and Private Sub Water Meter Installation, Cape Town
Pre-paid water meters enable property owners and -managers to manage water usage and cost for sectional title schemes, single title properties and commercial properties alike.
Where one bulk water meter is provided per development, a pre-paid water meter allows occupants to pre-purchase their water before it is made available through the water meter at each premises.
This reduces the problems associated with unpaid accounts and irresponsible water usage or neglect.
Visit the City of Cape Town water meter readings and tariffs page for more info about water meter readings and tariffs.
It’s suitable for any property owner who wishes to prevent incorrect water metering by the council and to act as a cross-checking method between live readings and that of the council readings, to install their own private sub-water meter. This often points out faults which will enable the owner to report them to the council. Monster Plumbing can assist with these water meter installations.
Water Filter System
Water filter systems removes unwanted contaminants from one’s main/council water supply to provide clean, PH balanced and palatable water straight from your tap! The domestic water filter systems are small enough and easy to install under a sink.
Monster Plumbing can either provide the system and install it or install a system a client has bought.
Greywater
Greywater is the harvested waste water from showers, baths and basins that could be tanked for further use.
It’s not allowed to legally store this in bulk on residential properties as it has a high bacteria count and it should be rid of if not immediately used.
If you wish to establish a safe grey water system for gardening or toilet flushing, it must be designed and installed by a subject matter expert with experience in the health and safety aspects of these systems.
Monster Plumbing can assist with installing a safe greywater system for easy use.
Rainwater Harvesting, Tanks and Pumps
Rainwater harvesting reduces the pressure on scarce water reserves. You can use untreated rainwater for your lawn, and plants, and to fill toilets. Additional precautions must be taken to filter, treat, and test rainwater before use for washing, cleaning, and cooking.
You can harvest rainwater with suitably fitted gutters that direct water from rooftops to an intended water tank or reservoir storage. Install a leaf catcher between the downpipe and the tank to separate leaf litter and debris from gutters and rooftops.
Various tank manufacturers offer purpose-made vertical-, horizontal-, and underground water storage tanks of various sizes.
Sealing tank entry points where insects could gain access will reduce the presence of mosquitoes and other insects that normally seek stagnant water.
Inspect your tank quarterly to check that the bottom is clean and clear of any built-up debris or leaves. Flush your tanks annually during the dry season if needed.
Circulation of standing water is necessary to ensure low bacteria counts and good chemical composition. If you want to pump water to your bathrooms, irrigation system, washing machine, or dishwasher contact Monster Plumbing to assist you with the best way to plan, maintain and implement the best system for your requirements and budget.
Also, keep the height the water must travel in mind when choosing a water pump. Pumps can last many years before becoming due for repair or replacement. Clean pumps from debris when they visibly have dirt in them. Well maintained pumps can last from 5 to 10 years.
Water Hardness
The information on water hardness is important for various reasons. Health concerns could be a factor and your drinking water may need to be treated by reverse osmosis or alternative dosing, depending on how the water system is incorporated on your property.
Pipe maintenance on pipe types is important due to the accelerated corrosion of metallic pipes caused by metals oxidising and forming rust on the internal diameter of the pipe. This creates pitting, scaling, and an overall reduction in pipe diameter which over time reduces water volume and pressure throughout your plumbing reticulation system.
You can take water samples to a variety of laboratories to have them tested – which will guide you as to the safety aspects for human consumption, water hardness, salt content, etc.
Water hardness can contribute to a variety of problems with geysers as the rust accumulates and forms a brown layer of rusty debris coating the inside of a geyser, clinging onto the element and various working parts. Element failures will be noticeably frequent and result in costly ongoing replacements. The geyser might have a considerably shorter life expectancy and the anode will have to be replaced more frequently.
All other appliances will show signs of excessive wear. Water pumps and water management devices will become faulty with ongoing exposure and the inside of appliances will show clear signs of scaling occurring as a result.
Water Meters F.A.Q
Over time, water meters can become faulty due to wear and tear. Incorrect calculations can you overpaying for water and the linked sewerage charges as a result of the costs linked to water usage. Faulty meters may not measure at all, so home owners may use water carelessly without paying. On the other hand, a water meter can help you easily identify a leak.
Private pre-paid meters is installed by a qualified plumber who is registered with the local council and the private registration board – able to provide duel COC’s depending what is required by the installation site.
Council meters may not be worked on by private plumbers as it entails shutting off sections of the suburb’s main water infrastructure to prepares the area. Only appointed City of Cape Town council workers or contractors are allowed to work on city infrastructure. A formal job needs to be registered with the council to log any water meter related faults or replacements.
Rental property landlords benefit most from pre-paid meters. It reduces risk of accounts not being paid as each purchase credits the account with funds paying for the water before it can be used. This reduces the risks associated with water leaks resulting into uncontrolled losses of both water and money.
It’s suitable for any property owner who wishes to prevent incorrect water metering by council and to act as a cross checking method between live readings and that of the council readings. This often points out faults which will enable the owner to report on them. It also helps manage daily usage as limits can be incorporated on the meters to cap usage.
Sectional title building, flats, apartments or sub-divided properties make use of pre-paid meters to eradicate irregular usage and to cross check the residential water usage and compare that to the use of common property areas where gardens and communal services are present. This creates the perfect tool to examine the total water usage per ERF, less the residential usage by means of pre-paid meters. The balance is then allocated to common property.
Body corporates and sectional title managers incorporate this into their property portfolios as they have to consolidate both water and electricity services on the schemes.
Yes, it will stop the bulk water supply while allowing only a trickle feed to ensure the pipe system doesn’t run dry, causing problems with geysers.
You can view your rate per kilolitre on the reverse of your municipal account. The charges work in tears of usage. Usually allowing you a free amount of water for the first few thousand and then charging you a minimal rate on the outset until you enter the next tear, where charges gradually increase. Depending how much water you use per month, it indicates what % of the water usage will pull through to your sewerage usage.
There are various high-tech metering options with alert systems and management tools you can consider. GSM network based options and you can also close range update the bulk device system by obtaining the usage of an entire complex.