Water problems persist in Region 7
Pump three has not been pumping. Technicians removed it from the site for repairs and it will be repaired on June 21
Bronkhorstspruit and surrounding areas have been without water since June 15, when repairs are being done on the water lines at the Zithobeni water plant.
The leaking pipe at the Zithobeni reservoir, repaired several times, has reached its lifespan. The City of Tshwane (CoT) worked over the weekend to replace the pipe.
Councillor Vusi Mabena said, “Pump three has not been pumping. Technicians removed it from the site for repairs and it will be repaired on June 21.”
Members of the community who have borehole water opened their hearts and allowed people to get water while repairs were still being done.
The reservoirs have run dry during the time the repairs have been done on the pipes.
Amos Kgomo said, “We completed the repairs on June 16 and released water into the system.”
“A pipe burst again after testing and repairs will continue through the night.”
“The team unscrewed the pipe to check the balance of the couplings and to modify it to contain the required water pressure,” said Kgomo.
They assessed the angle of the pipe, which they found was skewed. Because of the high pressure, the couplings shifted and created a pipe leak.
The team dug on the other side of the old pipe, with a TLB, to modify the pipe to fit well into the new pipe that was installed.
Jabu Mabona, Regional Head of Region 7, said, “I ask that the people will support the current team working on the reservoir; for work not to be interrupted of restoring water in the region.”
The CoT requested will support the ward with water tankers.
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“All our teams from bulk and local have collaborated. The only solution is to work together to fix the water problem,” said Mabona.
The team started pumping water on June 17 as part of testing for leaks from the work done. The second pump which was removed will be taken back to the site on June 19 to be installed.
With the current operation of one pump, the areas which will receive water first are Zithobeni and Bronkhorstspruit, because of the high level of the reservoir.
The reservoir rejected the coupling system and flinches, installed on June 17. The couplings stretched and the pipes burst at the joints.
“We are disappointed with what happened and hope for a speedy intervention by the CoT in restoring the water in the region,” said Mabona.
When the water crisis started, the city allocated 35 water tankers to distribute water in the communities to the four wards in the area – Wards 102, 103, 104 and 105.
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The water crisis affected the whole region and the CoT increased the water tankers to 64. The water tankers should cover the following wards:
- Ward 102 – old Zithobeni and its sections, Zithobeni Extention 2 and Riama Park.
- Ward 103 – Rethabiseng and its sections, Ekangala and all its sections.
- Ward 104 – Ekangala white houses and Dark City.
- Ward 105 – Zithobeni Heights, Bronkhorstspruit CBD, Masada, Caltura and Bester Park.
Contact details for ward councillors concerning the water tanker schedule:
- Ward 102 Vusi Mabena – 071 624 9737.
- Ward 103, Eunice Moloi – 082 510 2955.
- Ward 104, Mabona Matshiane – 079 264 1091.
- Ward 105, Fidel Phiri – 078 518 2050.
