NUMEROUS burst water pipes across Ward 34 has seen the loss of hundreds of litres of water flowing down various roads in the last few months.
Jesse Singh, chairman of the Kenville/Sea Cow Lake Ratepayers’ Association said that ageing infrastructure was to blame for water-related complaints.
According to the eThekwini Municipality, it loses 54% of the water it purchases due to illegal connections.
“In recent months there have been a number of burst pipes in the Kenville and Sea Cow Lake area. There is also a poor response time and residents are left without a stable supply of water for hours and sometimes days which exacerbates the problem. Currently we have two leaks, both of which have been reported, on Steeple Road and Holborn Road. I’ve actually spoken to plumbers on site when they are attending to bursts and they say the bursts are due to ailing infrastructure.
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“The situation is rather bleak and I acknowledge that frequent bursts aren’t limited just to Ward 34. I’ve seen reports across north Durban. I also agree illegal connections are an issue as the municipality has identified but not to the extent that we are seeing when it comes to water leaks and bursts. The other issue we are seeing is the run-off from the leaks lead to the erosion of the road surface which in turns forms potholes posing a hazard to motorists. There needs to be a concrete plan where the water pipe infrastructure is totally overhauled,” he said.
Singh added that often heaps of rubble from the repair of burst pipes were being left on the pavement for weeks on end.
While the eThekwini Municipality did not comment on this particular matter, in a statement on their Facebook page, the City said water losses cost the City.
“The eThekwini Municipality continues to work around the clock to address the challenge of illegal water connections. About 70 000 illegal connections have been identified in the last six months, with the City’s water losses currently at 54 %. Illegal connections not only contribute to water shortages but also decrease revenue for the City.”
The City urged residents to report illegal connections on the toll-free number 080 311 1111, or through the municipality’s WhatsApp number on 073 1483 477.
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