Joburg Water comments on water wastage
The Record asked JW about a more effective way to do this that would not result in such a huge water wastage.
Residents of Witpoortjie were shocked to see rivers of water flowing down Ham Street and Trezona Avenue during the afternoon of 1 November.
This was the result of Johannesburg Water (JW) employees releasing pressure from the system to make sure a leak was fixed.
The Record asked JW about a more effective way to do this that would not result in such a huge water wastage.
According to Tidimalo Chuene, the JW communications and marketing manager, a water system is pressurised and if a burst occurs, a section of the system needs to be isolated to repair the leakage.
“To ensure the repairs are done safely and correctly, most of the water needs to be discharged from the pipe. As soon as the repairs are done, the air trapped in the pipe needs to be expelled. This action results in water spillage. If this is not done, the pipe may burst again. It is therefore unfortunate to waste this water, but it has to be done to effect the repairs,” said Chuene.
