According to Kenboy Makeka (first response) and Zama Sithole (engineer), from the Ekurhuleni Metro’s water department, the Northmead water tower, which supplies water to the surrounding area, was too full, and the overflow was channeled to an outlet in Farrar Street, below the tower.
“The water level in the tower has to drop a bit, before work can be done on the pumps, to find out what’s wrong,” Makeka said.
Sithole said the pumps should stop once the tower is full, but this did not happen in this case, causing the tower to be continually filled and the water to stream out onto the street.
Clr Jacques Meiring (Ward 27) was on the scene and told the City Times the geyser started at about 9am on Thursday (September 1), and stopped before resuming later that night.
He said the metro lost around 30 per cent of its drinking water through water leaks last year.
This could not be confirmed by the metro at the time of publication.
“The engineer and I are going on a site visit to water leaks throughout Ward 27 on Monday (September 5),” Meiring said.
“I want each and every resident to call or email me personally regarding any leaks or wet spots in their area.”
Meiring can be reached on 079 294 7902 or jmeiring@live.com
At 10am today, Themba Gadebe, metro spokesperson, said the overflow had been stopped while repairs were being carried out on the pumps.“The pumps communicate with the tower and automatically switch off, but something went wrong and they kept on pumping,” Gadebe said.
“The areas of Farrarmere and Northmead might experience low water pressure if repairs are not completed by 2pm.”
Gadebe could not give a time frame for the repairs at the time of publication.
A nearby resident, Gail Walker, said this is not a new problem.
“I grew up here and can remember the water pumping out here every now and then since at least the 1980s,” she added.
“It happens at least once a year, especially when it rains heavily.
“It is sickening how much water is being wasted here, and our dams are at low levels.”
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