Black water withdrawals have decreased in Prague this year, while the total amount invoiced to rogues has increased
Water meter. Illustration photo: PVK
The number of illegal withdrawals of drinking water and black waste water production fell in the first eight months of this year. Last year, 272 cases were registered for the same period, this year 212. However, the amount invoiced to dishonest customers increased significantly. From January to August, Pražské vodovody a kanalizace (PVK) customer invoiced almost 3 million crowns, while for the same period last year it was 2.2 million crowns. In the total amount, the costs of the re-investigation, caused damages and penalties are also charged.
Out of a total of 86 cases of illegal waste water production, PVK workers proved 97 percent of them. “In the vast majority of cases, it was an unregistered sewer connection and a direct connection to the inspection shaft,” said PVK press spokesman Tomáš Mrázek.
The company investigated 126 cases of black drinking water withdrawals and managed to prove 102 of them. Unauthorized handling of the water meter (71%), unmetered branch in front of the water meter (17%) and unregistered water connection (10%) were the most common.
PVK selects potential black subscriptions from the control of subscription points from its own database. If the existing contract for water arrangements for the removal of wastewater or rainwater through sewers for public use, they perform in the inspection of the real estate.
PVK also checks objects that are not in their database (it is their own well) with regard to connection to public sewage. Employees always enter private buildings in the presence of the owner of the building. The company is also asking the relevant local authority (state building supervision) for possible help. The state of sewage discharge is also determined by PVK with the help of camera surveys and special operations.
Based on the investigation, the PVK determines the amount of the damage caused. If it is not possible to objectively determine the period of use, or to determine it with the help of building authorities or supply companies, and the use of the property lasts for a longer period, the duration of unauthorized withdrawal or unauthorized discharge is determined by PVK in accordance with the Civil Code and usually invoices damages for a period of three years before the date of detection of unauthorized withdrawal or unauthorized discharge.
PVK operates a water supply network with a length of 3,563 kilometers, the length of water connections is 881 kilometers. The sewer network measures 3,742 kilometers, the length of sewer connections reaches 1,018 kilometers.