Pretoria Street, in Ferndale, has experienced another pipe burst with lots of water being wasted and residents left with poor pressure and without water.
Nombuso Shabalala, spokesperson for Johannesburg Water, confirmed that the entity is aware of the issue and the burst is caused by the ageing of the city’s infrastructure.
“The leak will be attended to as soon as possible. The residents may experience poor pressure to no water during the repairs. This is because the water supply will have to be isolated (closed) in order to conduct repairs. The whole street will be affected, which is connected to the same line. Some surrounding streets may also be affected.”
She explained that usually, repairing leaking pipes takes about three to four hours. However, various factors can influence the time, including the availability of materials required.
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“Assessments will be conducted to determine what kind of material is needed to complete the repairs. Other unforeseen circumstances may occur such as weather conditions, sourcing of needed material (sometimes internal procurement processes are required), as well as the human labour needed.”
This follows a burst in the same area in March that led to excavations that left a massive hole and rubble that engulfed the left lane. Six months later – prior to the recent leak – the reinstatement job has not been done, and rubble has not been removed.
Shabalala explained that the entity is aware and will remove the rubble. She further stated that the water pipe needs to be re-routed using a special bender.
“It needs to be re-routed because it is in line with a stormwater drain belonging to the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA). Once this is received the Johannesburg Water team will do backfilling and a job card for reinstatement work will be created and issued to the JRA. The work is scheduled to take place within the next week.”
Ward 104 councillor Emi Koekemoer explained that the pipe burst occurred in March and the hole has remained opened since suffering repeated leaks and bursts on the same spot.
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“Despite the matter having been escalated by both me and councillor Lucinda Harman on separate, repeated instances, Joburg Water gives little to no feedback on bursts as we have witnessed during the Republic burst, communication has not been the best.”
She added that the volume of water wastage across the city is of great concern. “However, I am hopeful that this will be addressed in their turnaround strategy that was tabled in council on July 30.
“Unfortunately, I cannot speak on behalf of the entity. However, I suspect that the hole had not been closed yet due to the burst repeatedly opening up. This, however, is a massive safety concern as the hole is right outside the school,” added Koekemoer.
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