Residents spend five consecutive days without water

Constant burst pipes and water outages in Bordeaux are frustrating residents who sometimes spend five consecutive days without water.
On December 3, the main pipe which feeds the suburb burst in the morning with water gushing all over Darnoc Avenue and running into some residents’ properties.

One resident, Gerhard du Plessis, said they usually get water between 06:00 and 07:00 and then it is gone again. “This morning the water was running all over the road. I think this is a serious burst,” he said.
Du Plessis said pipes were being replaced in the area and contractors usually work in the evening. When they are done fixing the pipe and open the water the following day, there is usually another burst, he claimed. “Once they fix it, they let pressure in and it bursts somewhere,” he said.

Recently there have been five burst pipes on Darnoc Avenue alone.
Shanaaz Bailey said when contacting Joburg Water, the entity responded that they were attending to the problem. “We have various reference numbers that we received from reporting the problem. But still no water,” she said.

Ward 102 councillor David Potter said the ongoing water outages and low pressure in both Bordeaux and Blairgowrie was a result of continuous burst pipes in the suburbs. “My office has been in constant contact with the Joburg Water depot informing them of the locations of the bursts. The communities of both Bordeaux and Blairgowrie have been instrumental in communicating with the residents, compiling lists and tracking bursts, which has been helpful to myself and the Joburg Water depot,” he said.
Potter added that the infrastructure in the suburbs of Ward 102 is extremely old and residents should brace for more of the same until the infrastructure is replaced.

“The reality of which will only be in many years’ time. Continue to look and log water pipe and meter bursts by email customer@jwater.co.za,” he said.
Joburg Water spokesperson Eleanor Mavimbela said the area has been impacted due to the ageing infrastructure and the relevant depot was attending to bursts as and when they occur. “Joburg Water has a main pipe renewal programme in place to which Bordeaux North will be added in order to have a permanent solution to the reoccurring pipe bursts. There are a number of ways that residents can log a burst pipe,” she said.

Ways to log a burst pipe with Joburg Water:

• 24 hour Hotline: 011 688 1699/ 086 056 2874
• SMS line: 076 333 5052
• Email: Customer@jwater.co.za
• Social media: Twitter @jhbwater or Facebook, Johannesburg Water.