“I’ve been fighting this issue for 10 years now,” he said.
“All the new developments place pressure on the area’s infrastructure, which needs upgrading.”
On October 5, du Plessis showed the City Times two holes in front of Laerskool Brentwoodpark’s entrance, on the corner of High and Vryburg roads, which, he said, had been open for three weeks on the day.
“This 400mm pipe is the main water supply into Brentwood Park,” he explained while standing at one of the holes.
“They repaired the leak with a clamp about three weeks ago, but left the hole open.”
At the other excavation, he said: “The pipe in this hole is new, but was never connected and the work never continued.”
On October 5, the cavities were still open, with no tape or warning signs around them.
“What if a school child falls in here and is injured?” du Plessis asked.
“This kind of workmanship is unacceptable.”
A few hundred metres further, in a field between Umtata and Great North roads, du Plessis showed an access point to a large water pipe and the valve attached to it.
According to the ward councillor, this is the same 400mm pipe seen at the primary school.
Both the access chamber and a hole dug next to it were half-full of water.
“It’s been like this for the past six or seven years,” du Plessis said, adding that the pipe must have a slow leak.
He explained that the valve is closed and pointed to a smaller pipe bypassing it, possibly affecting water pressure.
“I agree with the water restrictions, because we are in a crisis, but if the metro does not do its part by having a quick turnaround time for repairing leaks, it becomes unfair toward the community,” he said.
“We should have a hotline and quick response teams for water leaks, and the turnaround time to repair leaks should be three hours at most.
“We can appreciate if there is work in progress at a specific spot, but the metro must communicate this to the councillors and the community.
“The community needs answers; I don’t even get answers.”
The metro was approached for comment, but none was forthcoming at the time of going to print.
Also read:
Car washes expected to save 30 per cent of their water usage
Council finalises water usage limits
Elderly ask for leniency on water restrictions
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