Seven Clarendon residents will face the court next month for racking up arrears and for trespassing on the works of the National Water Commission (NWC).
They are scheduled to appear in court on September 29. This is as the NWC tries to recover sums it is owed. According to Guy McCallum, area manager for the parish, a survey carried out in the New Bowens community revealed 15 illegal connections. Each was disconnected and court summonses served on the seven persons.
The sums owed by the residents range from just over $7,000 to $233,000.
The NWC says that the revenue survey and disconnection exercise, which began on August 8, targeted customers with amounts outstanding for more than 30 days and illegally connected
supplies.
The agency said that, during the first week of the exercise, 63 supplies with balances over 30 days were disconnected. Of this number, 11 accounts have since been settled.
adopting softer measures
According to Mr. McCallum, while prosecuting delinquent customers, the NWC is also adopting softer measures to ensure debt collection. These include individual disconnections, community meetings, offers of payment arrangements and regularisation of accounts among other activities.
The NWC said customers who are in arrears should contact the nearest commercial office to make arrangements to have the matter resolved.
