Water pipes burst across Durban North

NUMEROUS burst water pipes across Durban North have left streams of water flowing down various roads this week.

This after a major repair job last week, which affected the northern region from Durban North and uMhlanga to Verulam and Phoenix.

Ward councillor for the area, Shontel de Boer said she received complaints from residents on Ernest Avenue, Stirling Crescent, Kensington Boulevard, St Andrews Drive, Swapo Road, Delaware Avenue and Kenneth Kaunda Road.

The numerous pipe bursts could be related changes in water pressure after last week’s repairs.

“I know there have been problems with the water pressure since the repair work was done last week. The high water pressure resulted from water being turned off and on again during the repairs. The department is going to investigate the pressure and adjust it accordingly,” said de Boer. 

Water pressure was affected as the water reservoirs reached full capacity after the extended time period of the water outage last week.

Also read: Water restored in north Durban after massive repair job

Sue van Niekerk, a resident of Delaware Avenue, said  the leak on the verge outside her home was ongoing at 3pm on Tuesday, despite her efforts in reporting the mater on Monday at 10am.

“I wish there was a process to get it sorted out quicker, water is precious in today’s times and leaks should be attended to as a matter of urgency. I sat on the phone for about 20 minutes trying to find out what caused the issue,” she said.

Also read: Water restored to Glenhills after 30 hour repair

A resident on Stirling Crescent, Janet Aldworth, said it took three and a half days for the leak on her verge to be repaired.

“Someone arrived at 2.20pm  on Saturday and looked at it but drove away. Then on Sunday, at 7.30pm someone arrived, dug a hole (so the water gushed even harder) and disappeared. At 8.30pm, a sub contractor, arrived and proceeded to fix it but I was told, they knock off at 10pm and true to his word, they left the job at 9.55pm,” she said.

The leak was finally repaired on Monday evening, she added.

The eThekwini Municipality had not commented at the time this article was published.

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