Sludge, mud and rivulets of water have taken over Jayraj Mahadaw’s yard in Sixth Avenue. The yard is wet 24 hours a day for the past year and the damage is adding up. At times, the water trickles slowly from the back yard, meandering to the front but on some days, Mr Mahadaw describes the water leak as a ‘waterfall’.
Speaking to an Estcourt News reporter on Thursday, he said that he had reached his wits end trying to find the source of the incessant water leak as well as trying to obtain assistance from water service provider Uthukela District Municipality.
The leak is emanating from underground inside the yard and when Mr Mahadaw was told by the district municipality ‘it had nothing to do with them’, he set about digging around in his yard to locate the leak. This method of tracing the leak stopped at the neighbours palisade fencing as Mr Mahadaw is afraid that further digging would result in damage to the fence or home itself.
In the process, a second leak was detected.
“It seems like the main pipe is leaking. When Uthukela did come, they checked the leak and left. They have not returned since,” said Mr Mahadaw.
The neglected leak is causing visible damage to the home and yard. “The water has seeped into the foundation, the walls are cracking and my yard is wet all the time. Inside the house, the mats have been destroyed and the damp is seeping into the walls. I cannot do any repairs, I’ve been trying to plaster but I had to stop because of the water leak,” he said.
Frustration is noticeable on the homeowner’s face as he surveys the mushy yard and trail of water. “There are people who are in need of water and yet everyday thousands of litres of water are going to waste. Uthukela is useless,” stated Mr Mahadaw.
Uthukela District Municipality had been alerted of these concerns and was asked for advice to relieve the Mahadaw family from their watery hell but no response was given at the time of print.
