The low temperatures on Wednesday, July 9, and Thursday, July 10, contributed to burst or leaking water pipes in 45 of the total of 680 houses in Rynpark.
The board and management of the Rynpark Association for the Aged convened a number of emergency meetings on Thursday and Friday, which included technical specialists to help determine possible causes of the problem, and to make immediate plans to rectify identified faults.
The members of the board and management are deeply aware of the trauma which flooding of homes has caused for the affected residents, as well as other residents who are fearful of similar incidents.
At a special meeting of residents of Rynpark Two and Three, on Friday, July 11, both the executive manager, Joe Duvenage, and the chairperson of the board, Pam van Niekerk, expressed both their concern and apologies to the affected residents, indicating clearly that everything possible will be done to limit any repeat incident as far as is humanly possible.
Affected residents have been offered accommodation within Rynpark while their homes are being repaired and dried out.
Meals have also been made available.
Staff have been on site and on call since the first incident, on Thursday morning.
The situation has been all the more traumatic as, for one resident, this is the third incident, and for a number, the second incident.
No one common cause has been identified as responsible for the pipe bursts, or leaking pipes.
It must be made clear that the Powerson Solar Geysers have NOT been the cause of the problem.
The possible causes which have been identified, and which vary from house to house, include fluctuations in the flow and pressure of the incoming water supply, ageing pipes and, very regrettably, in one or two instances, connections which seem not to have been properly tightened, all of which combined with the below freezing temperatures, which resulted in ice formation, burst or opened pipes.
The affected homes will be given attention by an independent technical team, and repairs will include appropriate lagging of pipes, incorporation of a pressure regulating valve at the water intake point to the house and, where necessary, replacement of pipes.
Following the repair of affected homes, a programme of inspection of all water pipes in houses in Rynpark Two and Three, as well as lagging of pipes and installation of pressure regulating valves as required, will commence.
The incidents of flooding of houses in Rynpark Two and Three at the beginning of June, and again in July, has been of great concern to the board and management, who have been acutely aware of the distress and trauma which their residents have suffered.
Family and friends are assured that these incidents have been escalated to crisis status, and that immediate processes and long term plans are now in place to avert any such incidents in the future.
This crisis has also awakened the realisation that there are times when Rynpark needs external “Friends”, who could volunteer to assist particularly the more aged residents.
People who would volunteer their time would be the strong arms and legs which have weakened, or a listening ear – to name two aspects.
Should you be in the position to become a “Friend of Rynpark”, please contact 011 747 7642, and you will be linked with one of the conveners.
