<P> In 2010 Johannesburg water provided between 6 and 15 cubic meters of water per month for free, depending on the poverty level of residents . For those considered not poor, the tariff for the tranche between 6 and 10 cubic meters was R4. 93 (US $0.73), for the tranche up to 15 cubic meters it was R7. 31 (US $1.08) and so on until R14. 94 (US $2.21) for a consumption exceeding 40 cubic meters per month . The bill for 10 cubic meters per month thus is R20 . Poor households have to register themselves as "indigent" (poor), which - according to critics - leads to a situation where only a fraction of the poor receive the higher free basic water allocation to which they are eligible . </P> <P> In Cape Town water tariffs for the first block beyond free basic water are slightly lower than in Johannesburg at R4. 55 until 10 cubic meters, and the next tranche at R9. 7 is broader than in Johannesburg covering until 20 cubic meters per month, with R23, 42 charged beyond 50 cubic meters, resulting in a steeper tariff structure . The water bill for 10 cubic meters per month is R18 . The sewer charge is 70% of the water charge . </P> <P> Durban distinguishes between a lower tariff for semi-pressure service for houses in low - income settlements with roof tanks and a higher full pressure service for "formal" housing areas . Semi-pressure service is free until 9 cubic meters, while full - pressure service costs R9. 50 per cubic meter until 9 cubic meters per month, and R11. 25 until 25 cubic meters . The bill for 10 cubic meters per month is R7 for semi-pressure service and R97 for full - pressure service . There is also a free low - pressure service for ground tanks in informal and rural areas, under which water is pumped once a day to fill a 200 litres ground tank . </P> <P> South Africa has introduced a policy of free basic services, including water, electricity and solid waste collection . As part of that policy, every household is to receive the first 6 cubic meters per month for free . The policy was introduced gradually since 2000 within the means of each municipality . Each municipality decides if free basic water is made available to everyone or only to the poor . Most municipalities provide free basic water to all or almost all their residents . In 2012 the program reached 86% of all households . </P>

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