WATCH: Leakage to nowhere in Melville
MELVILLE – A burst water meter runs for hours, how this affecting our water crisis?
A water meter has burst on 5th Street near the corner of 5th Avenue in Melville, pumping clean water into the road.
Reports surfaced on Twitter regarding a burst water meter early in the morning on 10 November.
Hey @jhbwater there's a burst water meter corner 5th and 5th in Melville. Pouring water down the street
— Caroline Jane Smith (@Hippolyta67) November 10, 2015
The water that is flowing out of the water meter is clean, which begs the question of how residents are expected to conserve water when water is left to flood the streets?
In a previous article, the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Matshidiso Mfikoe explained that the City of Joburg was notified by Rand Water about the further deterioration in the bulk supply system recommending a high level water supply restriction.
The City has evoked Section 44 (3) of the water services bylaw – a level two restriction which is more serious than the level one, with level one restriction being an appeal to residents and customers to use water responsibly and sparingly as a mitigation factor.
Mfikoe further explained that if the situation deteriorates the City would impose a level three restriction and this means that water would be supplied at stipulated times in a day, mainly in the morning and the evening.
David Sibiya, Joburg Water (JW) acting manager of marketing and communication was contacted regarding the issue. Sibiya assured that he reported the issue immediately and will comment as soon as possible.
Ward 87 Councillor Amanda Forsythe commented, “Firstly any issues need to be reported with the proper channels which is JW’s email customerserviceemails@jwater.co.za or the call centre on 011 688 1699.”
Forsythe added, “We are very lucky in Region B to have a good JW team managed under Mark Kruger.” She elaborated, “So if the leak is still going on for some time, it could possibly mean it was not initially reported through the right channels.”
Details: Joburg Water, www.johannesburgwater.co.za or Ward 87 Councillor Amanda Forsythe, 083 227 1797.
