Years of neglect of the city’s ailing and crippled water infrastructure have left the eThekwini Municipality with no option but to take drastic steps and pay big money. More than 15000 households contribute nothing to the city coffers for the water they use. This was the frank observation by eThekwini water and sanitation head Ednick Msweli in a detailed report tabled before the city’s executive committee. To address the water loss nightmare, the city would have to pay R300 million a year for the next five years.