Water Board – flooding the customer!

Just a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit us, I had an unpleasant surprise in the form of my monthly water bill.

For many years my bill had averaged about Rs. 400 a month. The February bill was a whopping Rs. 9,000!

In a panic I contacted the Water Board area engineer thinking there may be a leak. He sent an inspection team promptly who having examined the taps confirmed that there was no leak.

While chatting to me the team leader looked at my water meter and discovered that the meter reader of the Water Board had made an unbelievable mistake in recording the readings. For number 1 he had recorded a 7. So instead of reading the correct 10 it had been recorded 70 (example). Naturally the bill was high! Although the error was by their own meter reader, the team leader advised me to go to their newly-opened office at Balapokuna Road, Kirilapone to have it corrected. He also advised me to take a phone photo of the current meter reading as proof.

Then came the curfew.

Early May when curfew was slightly relaxed I went to the Balapokuna Road office. On the way I was stopped by the Police to whom I had to explain the purpose of my journey.

At the Water Board office you have to go through the ritual of washing hands and having your temperature checked. There was a middle-aged officer there who was diplomatic and approachable. Of course, he had no solution (the problem created by their own meter reader). All the work had to be done by me. He advised me to await the next meter reading which will show the correct situation and to bring it to him.

After about two weeks I got the latest meter reading which was correct, and much less than the original 70 (now after three months it was like a 50).

Again I took the new reading and went to Balapokuna road. This time there was very long line of service receivers standing in the hot sun (inside the office was air-conditioned). Their complaint was that they had received an estimated bill higher than the usual amount. The same amiable officer came out to assure them that the bills would eventually get adjusted.

I finally managed to get to the air conditioned office. In there was a darkish female office barricaded behind a big rope who apparently was the complaints officer. There was at least three yards between us and all complaints had to be shouted at her. As we were all possible COVID-19 carriers, sooner we got out of her presence the better for her! 

Even before I could explain the mess their meter reader had created she pointed out a form outside asking me to fill it. In it I wrote “faulty meter reading” and kept the document safely out of her touch.

In the first place I cannot understand why in there so-called “dangerous” days the Water Board keeps its complaints office open to enact a farce (a comedy). And even if it is open, why persons so hygienically super-sensitive should work in such places. She would serve better in a back room doing computer work (if her education level allows it).

More than four months now, the blundering water meter reader has kept the tap open!

R. Perera