Republic of the Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY WATER DISTRICT

Pilar Street, Zamboanga City
Telephone Numbers: (062) 991-1556

WHAT ARE ILLEGAL WATER CONNECTIONS?

The Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) is presently involved in a massive program to
put a stop to all forms of illegal water connections (as enumerated in RA 8041 as well as ZCWD
rules, regulations and policies).

Illegal water connections contribute to non-revenue water (NRW) resulting to losses (water
wastage and revenue losses) to the ZCWD. It was also noted that areas wherein rampant illegal
water connections were documented and apprehended by this Office experiences low water
pressure resulting to inconvenience to consumers as well as contamination of water which may lead
to water-borne diseases.

Considering the foregoing, the ZCWD is encouraging Barangays within its service area to
be vigilant against illegal water connections and to report the same to this Office. With the joint
effort of the public and ZCWD, the following illegal water connections will be dealt with
accordingly:

1. Direct tapping of pipeline or the unauthorized reopening of closed/abandoned water

service connection is the tapping at ZCWD pipeline without its consent or the unauthorized
reopening of a closed water service connection brought about by the non-payment of water
bills;
2. Tampering of water meter is a form of illegal connection wherein the perpetrators tampers
their water meter in order to reduce its registration of their consumption;
3. By-pass connection is a form of illegal connection that is usually done to draw water in a
way that the water meter is bypassed;
4. Reversed water meter is the deliberate reversing of water meter in order to reduce
registration of water consumption;
5. Illegal dismounting of water meter is the deliberate removal of water meter from the angle
meter valve in order to draw water directly from the water service connection; and
6. Illegal use of booster pump is the use of pump that draws water directly from the water
meter (without sump tank) thus affecting the water pressure as well as the quality of water.
Illegal use of booster pump usually contaminates ZCWD water.

The above-mentioned illegal water connections are just some of the most commonly
committed violation of RA 8041 in the service area of the ZCWD.

RA 8041 or the National Water Crisis Act of 1995 provides that all forms of illegal water
connections are punishable by imprisonment for six months up to two years with a fine not
exceeding double the amount of the value of water stolen or the value of the damaged facilities. In
addition to imprisonment and fines, violators and their affiliates also face the consequence of
having their water service connection disconnected in all service areas of the ZCWD. Presently, the
ZCWD also considers out-of-court settlement of illegal connection cases by allowing the violators
to pay only the corresponding penalties as well as other administrative charges.

Moreover, it is also the policy of the ZCWD to collect from its customers the value of the
damaged or lost water meter; hence customers are also advised to help the District address this form
of losses by installing protective grills/boxes at their water meters.

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