Cagepa advises customers on procedures in cases of water meter theft

The Paraíba Water and Sewage Company (Cagepa) is advising its customers on the procedures to be adopted when they are victims of theft of water meters, better known as “clocks” or “water meters”, a crime that has been recorded more frequently in recent months. The company warns that the first action is to contact Cagepa for immediate replacement of the equipment.

According to data from Cagepa, 823 thefts of water meters were recorded in the State, between January 1 and April 23 of this year, an increase of 38% compared to the same period in 2023. In addition to the financial loss for the Company, due to the need equipment replacement, crime also causes inconvenience to residents, such as large leaks and lack of water, especially in properties without a reservoir.

According to the Customer Support Manager, Isaías Veríssimo, upon realizing that the water meter has been stolen, the first action to be taken is to immediately contact the Company. “It is important to report the case to Cagepa, since, without the water meter, the branch usually has a leak. This way, we will replace the water meter in the shortest possible time to reduce losses and prevent the residence from running out of water, especially if the resident does not have a water tank”, explains Veríssimo.

It is also essential to formalize the complaint with the Police, registering a Police Report. “To protect yourself from the costs of replacing the water meter, it is important that the customer register a police report at a police station or online and send a copy of the document to Cagepa, as instructed by the attendant. In the incident report, it is important to include the water meter number and registration number – data that appears on the property’s water bill”, advises the manager.

The water meter, which is commonly called a “clock” or “water meter”, is the device that measures the water flow, allowing the customer’s consumption to be obtained month by month. It also evaluates changes in consumption through alerts from the micro-metering management system to avoid wasting water.

Cagepa also asks for the population’s support in registering cases. “The support of the population is also very important in this task force. If customers have photos or videos from security cameras at the time of the theft, they can forward them to us because this can help find the criminals,” said the manager.

To report theft of water meters, contact Cagepa on one of these service channels:

– Call Center 115;

– WhatsApp (83) 98198-4495;
– Acqua Virtual Attendant, on the website www.cagepa.pb.gov.br;
– Virtual Agency, on the website www.cagepa.pb.gov.br;
– Cagepa application, available for Android and iOS;
– In-person service in stores (João Pessoa, Campina Grande, Guarabira, Patos, Pombal and Cajazeiras, in addition to service points available in several Citizenship Houses spread across the state).