Residents left without water after repeated pipe bursts

Residents in Farrarmere had no water pressure for most of Sunday (November 27).

Clr Malanie Haggard (Ward 28). (File photo)

Other areas in Benoni were also affected by low or sporadic water pressure, throughout the day.

Water supply fully returned to Farrarmere by about 7.30am on Monday (November 28).

According to Clr Malanie Haggard (Ward 28), three pipe bursts – all along Cambridge Street – were reported on Sunday, as well as a leaking fire hydrant.

“I told the residents last night to just wait and let the system refill with water, then they would be able to use water again this morning – but another pipe burst now and the area’s water was off till about 8am again,” Haggard said on November 28.

“It’s absolute chaos here now.

“The infrastructure in Benoni is too old; it can’t handle the water rationing, but they (metro) continue with it.

“We understand the need for restrictions as we’re in a crisis, but switching it on and off with rationing, can damage the infrastructure further.

“With what we’ve experienced so far, there’s almost guaranteed to be a burst pipe in Farrarmere every day after rationing.

“I think we’re losing more water than we’re actually saving, with rationing.

Conversely, she said: “The standby team was great; every time a pipe burst yesterday (November 27), I notified them and they came out quickly, not waiting for reference numbers.”

Chris van Niekerk standing with a part of the pipe which was removed in front of his yard in Farrarmere.

Farrarmere resident Dawn Clark said water was off since the early morning and only returned for several minutes after 4pm, before going off again.

“Most people living here are fed-up with it,” Clark said.

“We’re grateful to Malanie Haggard for the constant update, but Ekurhuleni gets the thumbs down.”

Another Farrarmere resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “To our shock and to top it all, we also discovered that the pipes were made of asbestos.”

Clr Jacques Meiring (Ward 27) said: “Most of Benoni was affected by sporadic or low water pressure throughout the day (November 27).”

“This was due to the pipe bursts in Farrarmere. It showcases what we’ve been saying: that the system can’t handle the constant closing and opening of pressure.”

Haggard said the municipal call centre presents another problem.

According to her, residents’ calls to the centre are often not answered and when they are, they’re asked for their account numbers.

“If they don’t have it with them, when driving past a burst pipe for example, the operator won’t help the residents – meanwhile all this water is getting wasted.”

“We want residents to save, but then Ekurhuleni allows water to run down the street.”

The metro had not responded to questions at the time of going to print.