Schools owe Water PNG K900,000

A NUMBER of primary and secondary schools in the country owe Water PNG more than K900,000, an official says.
Lae’s Water PNG Ltd customer services manager Herman Kagl said some of the schools had their water disconnected because of unpaid bills.
He said Water PNG was willing to enter into agreements with the schools.
“A number of primary and secondary schools in the country owe Water PNG K942,900.
“Lae schools, excluding tertiary institutions, owe us K430,376,” Kagl said.”
Kagl said the total debt for all water users in the country was K21 million.
He said for Lae alone, users who had been disconnected owed the company K5 million.
Kagl said despite the difficulties faced by many schools in the country, some schools paid their dues on time.
“Some schools in Lae like Busu Secondary, Lae Secondary, Coronation College, Lae International School, Markham Road, Taraka Primary School and Buimo Road Primary School are okay with their payments,” he said.
“Omilee was an excellent customer but for the last two years they didn’t pay and are currently disconnected.”
Kagl said some schools who paid part of their total debt had been reconnected but those who did not pay anything were still disconnected.
He said Butibam and Omilee primary schools in Lae were still disconnected because of outstanding water bills.
Kagl said one of their main problem was with illegal connections.
“Stealing of water is a big concern for us.
“A team will soon be tasked to check every household and if you are connected illegally, please come forward to us and we’ll forgo what you have done before we come to you,” he said.