Broken water meter results in flooding of residential property
NIGEL - Since the implementation of water restrictions in Gauteng due to a severe drought, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) has cautioned residents to use water sparingly and to report any water leaks of faulty water meters without delay.
SABC News reported on September 19 that almost 40% of municipal water leakages go undetected.
Yet, when Mrs Midia Sithole from Clarendon Road reported a broken water meter on September 14, it was only attended to by the local municipality a day later.
Mrs Sithole told HERAUT she left the house to run errands in town and upon her return, she discovered the broken meter with water gushing from it.
She visited Nigel Town Council to report the damaged meter and followed it up three times during the course of the same day. In spite of having been provided with a reference number and confirmation that municipal workers will attend to it soon, the meter was still not repaired the following day.
By that time, the low lying areas of Mrs Sithole’s garden was party flooded.
“I went outside to check the meter, but found myself ankle deep in the water. Meanwhile, Ekurhuleni warns residents to use water sparingly and to report all leaks or broken water meters. This morning, I could not even make coffee or bathe, as there was no water in the taps,” she said.
Soon after HERAUT visited the house of Mrs Sithole on September 15, municipal workers arrived to attend to the damaged water meter.
