Rand Water responds
“Upon further investigation, it was also discovered that the burst pipeline had already caused extensive damage to third-party properties in Tiffany Gardens and Bassonia Rock estates, including to the internal and external access roads to Tiffany Gardens.”
RAND Water’s Media Relations Manager, Justice Mohale, was asked for comment on the burst water pipe tragedy and explains what actually happened.
“Rand Water received a call from a Johannesburg Water employee reporting a reservoir overflow in Commando Road. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the water flow was actually due to a pipeline burst, which occurred on a cross connection between C13 and C15 pipelines inside the Meyersdal Eco Estate. The burst pipeline was immediately isolated so that water could be pumped out of the valve chamber,” Mohale said.
Findings
“Upon further investigation, it was also discovered that the burst pipeline had already caused extensive damage to third-party properties in Tiffany Gardens and Bassonia Rock estates, including to the internal and external access roads to Tiffany Gardens.”
Action Plan
“Rand Water insurance personnel were called to assess the extent of the damage. Three families at Tiffany Gardens needed to be accommodated at a guesthouse as their apartments were badly damaged. Rand Water contractors started to repair access roads so that residents could drive in and out of their residences. A contractor was immediately assigned to clean-up and remove debris in the residents’ apartments.”
Progress Report on January 4, 2017- Completed Projects
- Basic physical assessments of damaged properties have been conducted.
- Burst pipeline has been repaired.
- Access road to Tiffany Gardens has been temporarily repaired so that residents are able to use it.
- Cleaning operations at most of the units (where owners are available) have been completed.
- Restoration of electrical installations and plumbing, both at Bassonia Rock and Tiffany Gardens, is still in progress.
- Structural integrity and geo-technical assessments of the affected area and buildings have been conducted.
- The Tiffany Gardens insurers as well as Rand Water loss adjusters have conducted the insurance assessment.
Work In Progress
Further physical assessment is on-going as and when access to properties becomes available, particularly from those residents who were away.
Further insurance assessments to be done by both Rand Water insurers and those of the estate.
Repair of broken doors, windows, carpets and other structures/fittings needs to be carried out during the course of this week once insurance matters have been dealt with.
Replacement of damaged movable assets, such as beds and couches, to be done before homeowners can be expected to move back into their homes.
Displaced homeowners are being accommodated at nearby guesthouses until Friday, January 6, 2017.
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Root cause analysis will be conducted once the recovery operations have been completed.
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