CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT; KEY IN REGULATION
Posted Feb 14, 2011
Water watch groups ensure that consumer’s views are taken into account in matters relating to water supply and sanitation thereby being protected from unfair tendencies.
WWGs have a mandate to ensure increased consumer awareness on rights and responsibilities as well as provide feedback on service provision.
Consumers need to be empowered with knowledge in order to demand value for money.
The Regulator protects the public through:
- Educating consumers so that they can make an informed choice
- Upholding the rights of consumers
- Help consumers in disputes with service providers/operators
- Enforcement of laws, rules and regulations
As a consumer you have a critical role to play in water service delivery. To ensure that adequate services are delivered , consumers need to support efforts aimed at providing an efficient service.
As a water consumer YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO:
- An efficient service as guaranteed by the provider
- Regular supply of service
- Good quality water
- A satisfactory response to your complaints
- Be invoiced every month.
As a water consumer YOU HAVE A RESPOSIBILITY TO:
- Give feedback on quality and quantity of services received
- Keep water equipment in good condition
- Pay bills on time
- Report any illegal activities around water infrastructure
- Allow water providers access to infrastructure and water points
- Pay for repairs and maintenance of distribution pipes
