SWM waarschuwt: strengere maatregelen bij achterstallige waterrekeningen

Suriname’s national water utility, De Surinaamse Waterleiding Maatschappij (SWM), has announced stricter enforcement measures targeting customers with overdue water bills, in a move designed to reduce widespread payment arrears and secure the long-term stability of the country’s drinking water supply. Announced on July 22, the updated policy includes two key changes: an expansion of operating hours for water service shutoffs, and a new protocol to cut off supply from roadside main lines for properties where water meters are inaccessible due to locked gates or other obstructions.
Importantly, all additional costs incurred from these roadside shutoff operations will be passed directly to the non-compliant customer. SWM officials explained that the harsher measures are rooted in a critical need: consistent, on-time bill payments are fundamental to maintaining a reliable drinking water distribution network across the country and funding much-needed upgrades to aging water infrastructure.
Under existing SWM terms of service, customers who have two outstanding unpaid water bills are already required to cover additional collection fees. If the outstanding balance is not cleared after these fees are added, the utility retains the right to terminate water service entirely. The new policy simply strengthens enforcement of these existing rules by removing barriers that previously allowed delinquent customers to avoid shutoffs.
To help customers avoid service interruption and extra charges, SWM is actively reminding the public of the multiple convenient payment options available beyond in-person counter transactions. Customers can settle their bills via online or mobile banking, the digital payment platforms Uni5Pay+ and Mope, or set up automatic giro transfers through their personal bank accounts.
Utility representatives emphasized that timely bill benefits all stakeholders. Beyond helping individual customers avoid service cuts and extra fees, consistent on-time payments guarantee the continuity of high-quality water services for all users and clear the way for planned future investments that will expand and improve Suriname’s drinking water network for decades to come.