Following the recent puzzling drainage of the Haak en Steek dam on 9th Avenue, Rand Water is expected to send out a task team to investigate the debacle.
The residents of Weltevreden Park woke up to an almost dry dam on 28 April. The cause remains a mystery but speculations pointed at Rand Water’s F46 pipeline project. However, the contractors have rubbished these claims.
Rand Water has now informed the public that it is assembling a team that will investigate the reasons that might have contributed to the phenomenon.
Read the initial article here: Damn, where is the dam?
“Our team has been instructed to work around the clock and to report back on its preliminary findings by 8 May. I will share these findings with Dave Baxter, the chairperson of the Panorama Residents’ Association by 21 May ” said Nathi Ndawo from Rand Water.
Ndawo said the scope of the investigation includes water leaks due to underlying groundwater patterns; a change in hydrology; the possibility of a disturbance of some kind; a change in sedimentation, and general impact due to infrastructure improvement as part of urbanisation.
He added that Rand Water subscribes to the preservation of plant diversity such as wetlands, water quality and the preservation of the remaining wetlands in the community.“We will make sure that the restoration of the 9th Avenue wetland is our priority irrespective of the study findings,” he assured.
Apart from the dam issue, residents have criticised the project’s past failures. Fred Otto, chairperson of the Devon Valley Residents’ Association weighed in, saying, “You as Rand Water have never been totally honest with the residents of Weltevreden Park or Fairlands etc about this project. You have totally impacted our lives and our well-being with this project and you seem to feel that you can carry on destroying our roads and our area as long as it suits your needs.
“I am therefore challenging you and your management team to attend a meeting with the residents of the area on Monday, 14 May at the Panorama Primary School so that we can address these issues and openly get answers.”
Acceptance of the invitation has not been received, however Ndawo conveyed Rand Water’s apologies for any inconvenience caused during the construction of the F46 pipeline project.
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