Cabinet has endorsed the water policy that will make many South Africans pay for every drop of water they consume. Only the poor will continue to receive the free monthly allocation of 6000l of water.The revised policy is awaiting the signature of Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane.Departmental spokesman Sputnik Ratau said: "It is not only the department's view but rather that of the cabinet that households that can afford to pay for the water supply service must be excluded from the free basic allocation. Hence, the 2013 policy positions were approved by the cabinet."But it is also imperative to note that the water services authorities are also required by policy and legislation to make decisions based on their local dynamics."Municipalities are yet to adopt a position on the matter.The SA Local Government Association - representing 273 municipalities - is conducting a cost study on municipal services in general and the outcomes of that study will influence whether its members continue to provide some free water to all.The five biggest municipalities in the country paid a total of about R3.7-billion to provide free water last year (the City of Johannesburg paid R500-million, the City of Cape Town R592-million, the City of Tshwane R101-million, the Ekurhuleni metro R1.8-billion and eThekwini R705-million.)But Salga appears to have already decided on the matter.When the association announced last year that it planned to look into the costs of municipal services, it said councils were undercharging."[Between] the cost we are incurring to provide the service and what we're charging, there is actually a deficit," a Salga official said at the time. It has been claimed that the additional revenue collected from non-indigent households - which will be forced to pay for all their water - will be used to roll out water infrastructure to needy areas.Said Ratau: "If all water services authorities provide free basic water only to indigent households, the revenue collected from the households that can afford to pay will assist to sustain the service and contribute to the delivery of basic water supply to the unserved households."..