UPDATE: Water constantly leaks on Bram Fischer Drive
FERNDALE – City of Joburg do not have the budget required to replace the pipes urgently.
It has been a frustrating situation for residents and business people as litres of clean water persist to go to waste due to water leaks along Bram Fischer Drive.
Since December 2015 there has been a constant, steady stream of water from at least two leaks on the lines along Bram Fischer Drive from Hunter Street to Grove Street.
Read previous story: Water leaks cause concern
Ward 102 Councillor David Potter explained that he reported the problem numerous times to Joburg Water.
“With urgency, Joburg Water needs to replace the pipes, which I believe are main water feeder pipes from the Linden reservoir. Burst pipe repairs are not going to solve the problem as the pipes are old,” he explained.
He further added that with the recent DSTV development along the road, numerous City services were upgraded, thus now putting pressure on the old and frail infrastructure further away from the new building.
According to Councillor Potter, the current situation along Bram Fischer Drive poses a risk to pedestrians as the pedestrian walkway was blocked, and was full of water and mud at various points.
“It also poses a risk to motorists as one of two lanes of Bram Fischer Drive is blocked off with a mound of soil,” he concluded.
Joburg Water confirmed that the pipe was more than 40 years old and it had weakened to such an extent that it could not be repaired anymore but should be replaced.
“Yes, the whole pipeline from the Linden reservoir to the Kensington ‘B’ reservoir needs to be replaced, however we do not currently have the budget required to fix the entire pipeline,” explained the entity’s external communications officer Eleanor Mavimbela.
She further explained that in the meantime they would be replacing sections as and when leaks occur that could not be replaced now. “These particular few lengths will be replaced,” she asserted.
She concluded that mitigation measures were in progress with 321km water pipes and 72 sewerage pipes replaced since the commencement of the multi-year pipe replacement programme in the financial year 2013/14. The City hopes to replace 709km of pipes by June 2017.
Details: Joburg Water, 011 029 4610; Ward 102 Councillor David Potter 082 885 9688.
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