Water leaks cause chaos
Residents of numerous parts of Carletonville and Oberholzer were stranded without water after municipal pipes suddenly started busting on several streets this week.
In one instance, residents around the Mini OK in Oranje Street were caught off-guard when a pipe burst at the corner of Coronation and Van Riebeeck Street opposite Hoërskool Wonderfontein early Sunday morning. Many residents did not have water until that night.
In another incident, residents only blocks away were without water when a pipe burst at the corner of Selati and Paul Kruger streets.
Many residents expressed unhappiness on social media and questioned why so many such breaks had occurred after no similar problems had occurred for months.
“The recurring pipe bursts may be attributed to the PRV valves not being properly set or potential faults in the valves, leading to elevated water pressure. Given Carletonville’s ageing water pipe system, the heightened pressure contributes to the regular pipe failures. Resolving the issue requires expertise not currently available in the Water and Sanitation Department,” one of the ward councillors in the affected area, Carl Sebastian Steenekamp, explained to residents in his ward.
Some residents also questioned whether the issues could be the result of sabotage.
The Herald took the issue to the municipality on Tuesday.
“The burst pipes are due to malfunctioning pressure regulating valves (PRVs). The municipality will look into and investigate the suggestion that the incidents could be the result of sabotage by employees to claim overtime,” answered Merafong’s acting communications and marketing manager, Ms Nomonde Mahube.
