Douglasdale residents frustrated with frequent water outages
DOUGLASDALE – Residents in the area took to the corner of Kingfisher Drive and Alexander Avenue due to not having water for three days.
Frequent water outages for over a year in Douglasdale area continues to frustrate residents. At some certain times, residents spend about three consecutive days without water.
On the afternoon of August 9, several frustrated residents headed to the corner of Kingfisher Drive and Alexander Avenue in Fourways due to frequent water outages within the area.
Almost 15 residents gathered with placards along the intersection displaying their frustration and raised awareness about the plight as residents did not have water for almost three days before the protest.
Police were on-site to maintain order and monitor social distance restrictions.
A resident in the Douglasdale area, Susan Mottram, said the protest was organised in a short space of time but was pleased with the turnout of locals who helped raise awareness on the matter.
“We’ve had no municipal water for three days straight due to burst pipes. This happens literally every week. Our councillor Chris Santana is trying his best for us, but there is no solution.
“We can’t bathe unless we go to a friend’s house, we can’t wash dishes and clothing, we can’t clean our homes, water our gardens, and we don’t have fresh drinking water without buying it from the shops,” she added.
She mentioned that this has been an issue for several weeks where frequent water outages happen in the area.
DA Constituency for Ward 106, Mark van der Merwe, attended the peaceful protest and encouraged residents to report faulty pipes in the area. He said they should expect a turn-around time of 48 hours.
He said areas surrounding Ward 106, including Ward 93 as well as Ward 115, have had issues with burst pipes, and these are in the process of being addressed by the municipality.
“Since last year June, the area has had almost 300 burst pipes. Tarentaal Lane was replaced some time ago. Spreeu Lane, Plover Street, Jacana Street, Kestrel Avenue, Robin Drive to Kingfisher Drive and Leslie Avenue between Robin Drive and Westway Road are busy. Should be completed within the next month. These are all in Ward 93.
“Next is Quelea Street, Flamingo Avenue, Crane Street, Fisant Avenue, Ibis Lane, Arend Avenue, Albatross Drive, Valk Avenue and Robin Drive from Kingfisher Drive to Albatross Drive.
“Should start in about one month and last about five months. These are all in Ward 115.”
The spokesperson of Johannesburg Water, Eleanor Mavimbela, said they were aware of the frequent bursts in the area, and are working toward resolving the problem.
“Johannesburg Water is in the planning process to replace some of the hotspot lines. This will reduce the number of occurring burst pipes in the area.
“Recently, we had a planned interruption in order to do repairs to a burst pipe that affected some of the Fourways areas.”
Details: If you stay in these areas and have been affected by water outages, please contact Mark
van der Merwe at Mark.Fourways@gmail.com
