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GIST

Plumtree Town (Water, Sewerage and Drainage) By-laws, 2025

Plumtree's water by-laws keep the meter as council property, put its safe-keeping on the consumer, allow prepayment and portable meters, and charge builders for temporary supplies.

These by-laws govern the Plumtree Town Council's water supply and its sewerage and drainage services.

Part II covers water supply: applying for service, the connection pipe, payment, termination, restoration and discontinuation, prepayment meters, disconnection on termination of the agreement, water quality and pressure, supply by portable meter, and temporary supplies for building purposes — where the owner or builder bears the cost of providing and fixing the communication pipe and meter at the prescribed rates and pays for water at the prescribed tariff, with the same pipe usable for the later permanent supply.

Part III covers metering. The council supplies and installs the meter at a prescribed fee; the consumer must provide a suitable approved place for it and ensure council officials have access at all reasonable times to read, overhaul, remove or work on it. The meter and its fittings remain the council's absolute property, the council maintains and repairs it for ordinary wear and tear, and the consumer must take reasonable precautions for its safe keeping and is liable for damage caused by failing to do so. The council may disconnect and substitute a meter at any time.

The extract available here was truncated part way through the metering provisions, so the billing, sewerage, drainage and tariff provisions should be read in the instrument itself. The by-laws are near-identical to those made for the City of Masvingo in the same period.

What changed

  • Water supply requires an agreement with the council, which supplies and installs the meter at a prescribed fee
  • Meters and fittings remain council property; consumers are liable for damage from failing to protect them
  • Consumers must provide an approved place for the meter and allow access at all reasonable times
  • Prepayment and portable meter supplies are provided for
  • Builders pay the cost of the communication pipe and meter for temporary building supplies

Who this affects

  • Water consumers in Plumtree
  • Builders and developers needing temporary supplies
  • Prepayment meter users
  • Council water and revenue departments

Plain-language summary — not legal advice. Always read the full instrument.