A tip-off about alleged illegal water use prompted Nelson Mandela Bay officials to conduct an investigation at two businesses in Sidwell on Friday.
During the operation, the metro police and the city’s meter installation directorate uncovered evidence that a business selling bottled water to the public had allegedly bypassed its meter and used municipal water without paying for it.
The operation started in Sutton Road, where the business bottles and stores the water.
The remaining water is used in construction and other operations.
Subsequently, the teams went to a secondary premises where the same owner claimed to be making ice.
“The joint operation was aimed at investigating the illegal use of municipal water that is being bottled at the premises in Sutton Road, as well as being sold and transported to other locations to fill pools and tanks,” manager of operations and technical support at the meter installations department, Shannon Barkes, said.
“During our investigation, we uncovered an illegal connection before the municipal meter, meaning that most of their business is being operated with illegal water, and we believe this has been going on for more than a year.”
The investigation also uncovered other questionable operations and other municipal departments will be brought on board to investigate the matter further.
The Herald
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.