Early sinkhole warning signs to watch out for

With the likelihood of persistent rainfall over the summer season, the City of Ekurhuleni advises residents to monitor early signs and possible development of sinkholes on their properties.
The city explained that sinkholes are caused mainly by stagnant water and constant water pipe leaks which result in underground erosion.

According to metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, to mitigate against waterpipe leaks and the resultant development of sinkholes, the city is replacing old concrete pipes with more flexible ones that can withstand unstable ground. Such pipes can move, without breaking, with the ground as the earth shifts for any reason.

Here is how to spot a sinkhole before it swallows you up:
Early signs include the tilting of one side of a house; slight sinking of the ground; depression or unexplainable holes in the yard – no matter how small they may be.

Ekurhuleni is a highly dolomitic area and as a result the city advises the public to use professionals when building or extending their homes because they will know how to navigate the building conditions, conduct land surveying and can determine the appropriate building materials for specific land conditions. This way, you mitigate the threat of sinkholes affecting your property.

The public is encouraged to report suspicious dolomite or sinkhole signs through their local Customer Care Centre (CCC) or call 0860 543 000/ 011 999 4666 /4940.
“Once the incident is reported, the city will send a team of experts to inspect and assess the situation. Should the assessment confirm the threat of a sinkhole, the affected occupants may be requested to evacuate the property for safety reasons, depending on the risk detected,” explained Dlamini.

Dlamini said should an evacuation be recommended, the area will be cordoned off to deny unauthorised access. A detailed geotechnical investigation is then conducted to determine the possible cause and the extent of the sinkhole. Rehabilitation then commences and the area is reinstated to its original state. The affected occupants are then advised when to return.

The public is warned against trying to access a cordoned off property as this may result in the unfortunate loss of life because the decision to evacuate is informed by the threat as demonstrated by the investigation carried out by experts.

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