UPDATE: Replacing ageing infrastructure is the only way to resolve water issues in Johannesburg
JUKSKEI PARK – In due course, water cuts and outages will be a thing of the past.
Joburg Water said the City of Johannesburg is attending to their ageing infrastructure.
On 17 October residents of Jukskei Park had a meeting with Ward 115 councillor Matome Mafokwane to discuss issues of unannounced water and electricity cuts in surrounding areas.
Residents were furious about the fact that pipes in the area burst, on average, once every trimester.
Issac Dhludhlu, spokesperson of Joburg Water stated, “The City of Joburg has a challenge of ageing infrastructure which Joburg Water has identified and prioritised in its annual plans to ensure sustainable water and sanitation provision to all residents of Johannesburg.”
READ: Water and electricity issues have angered Jukskei Park residents
He went on to say that Joburg Water has a programme in place to identify exactly which pipes around Johannesburg need to be replaced on an annual basis.
They have set targets on when these replacements should be completed and plan on achieving these targets.
The replacement project will be an ongoing project as Joburg Water manages 10 700 km of sewer networks and an additional 11 900 km of water networks. Budgets need to be made and approved for every financial year to ensure their targets are met.
Joburg Water pleads with the residents of Jukskei Park and Johannesburg to be patient with them as they work through these issues. They said the work they do will sometimes be spontaneous but they will try to better communicate with residents on water cuts and outages. They will also try to provide water tanks to service affected areas.
The entity advises residents to adhere to the following water saving tips:
- Water your garden in the morning or late in the afternoon and avoid watering on windy days
- When sprinkling, use a timer on the tap
- Soak your gardens twice a week and water the roots, not the leaves
- Use a trigger nozzle on your hose
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk
- Wash a car on the lawn using a bucket instead of the hose
- Cover your pool to avoid evaporation in hot days and throughout the winter season
- Plant indigenous plants that require less watering
- Start rainwater harvesting.
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