Update, 7.30pm
Sandton Chronicle contacted Nico De Jager, MMC for environment and infrastructure services, to clarify some of the concerns posed by residents.
“The reason some people will have water and their neighbour won’t could be due to air in the pipes or that the reservoir levels are still too low,” De Jager said.
“In Bryanston, the water level is at 3m in the reservoir and is slowly increasing.”
In terms of the hydrants that are still open, he stressed that it is necessary to let the air out even though it might seem like a waste.
“Water won’t be restored if they close it while there is still air in the pipes. This might lead to another pipe burst. The teams are still working non-stop,” he said.
De Jager also asked for the community to please be patient. He will follow up with Johannesburg Water as to when the hydrants will be closed.
Update, 4pm:
Nico De Jager, MMC for environment and infrastructure services, said that trapped air pockets may be preventing water to flow in some areas, and that fire hydrants have been opened to assist in flushing the pressure out.
“I’m aware of the frustrations of residents and hopefully water will be restored in Douglasdale soon,” he added.
Water is being opened slowly to avoid further burst pipes. Morningside, Malbourough, Bryanston areas, water opened at low pressure. Sandton areas, reservoir now opened water will start trickling in. We regret the inconvenience caused^TK
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) November 23, 2017
Update, 12.15pm:
Douglasdale Community Policing Forum chairperson, Jean Berdou has advised residents to ensure their taps are closed so that as, and when, the water returns, water is not wasted.
According to some of our readers, water has returned in certain areas. These include:
- Sunninghill Gardens,
- Buccleuch,
- Some of the parts in Edenburg and Fourways,
- Hurlingham Manor,
- Lonehill,
- Craigavon and Fourways Gardens,
- Dainfern,
- Gallo Manor,
- Paulshof,
- Bramley Park,
- Sandown,
- Beverley,
- Bryanston,
- Woodlands,
- River Club,
- Douglasdale, and
- Broadacres.
Update, 8.30am:
The partial opening of the first reservoirs started already. We have to do this partially to allow the system to gently recover without more bursts. Sandton will be the last to come back online. ETR for Sandton is 1pm. @JHBWater @CityofJoburgZA
— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 23, 2017
Bryanston ext 1,2,4,5 as well as Morningside has been partially opened. Pressure will be low to allow for normalisation of the system. @JHBWater @CityofJoburgZA
— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 23, 2017
Marlboro has also now been opened 10 % to allow the system to clear of any air in the pipes and avoid further bursts as a result. @JHBWater @CityofJoburgZA
— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 23, 2017
Update, 23 November, 6am:
Reservoirs are filling and Joburg Water engineers assured me that reservoirs will be partially opened in the next 30 min. The process is slow and those closest to the reservoirs will start enjoying the supply of water even at lower than usual pressure. @CityofJoburgZA @JHBWater
— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 23, 2017
#SandtonAlexandraBryanstonMorningsideandLinbroPark.Recharging of reservoirs started after 23h00 last night and some parts of the city already have water. High lying areas may take longer to get water. ^E
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) November 23, 2017
Recharging of the Sandton mainline resumed just before 11 pm. Recharging is a slow process in order for our team to treat the infrastructure with respect. The first areas started getting water around midnight and so far all s food and holding. @JHBWater @CityofJoburgZA
— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 23, 2017
#UPDATEMAJOROUTING
All reservoirs are being recharged and many arrears should start recieving water anytime from now. @JHBWater @CityofJoburgZA— Isaac Dhludhlu-???????????????? (@Isaac_Dhludhlu) November 23, 2017
Update, 5pm:
Recharge of water supply has begun… Please keep all taps closed through the night and use water sparingly.
On behalf of Joburg Water and Office of MMC I thank all residents for their understanding and patience. @CityofJoburgZA @JHBWater pic.twitter.com/mBs9IFo0bT— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 22, 2017
Joburg Water completed the repair work will start recharging of the system by 4.30
1. Please ensure all taps are closed to avoid flooding.
2. Do not fill up swimming pools or water gardens.
3. Use water sparingly to allow reservoirs to replenish. @JHBWater @CityofJoburgZA— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 22, 2017
Update, 2.55pm:
Welding has been completed by Johannesburg Water and flushing will commence shortly, according to Isaac Dhludhlu.
Ward 103 councillor Vincent Earp said, “It was agreed that we want to ensure 200 per cent security of the work and are mounting an additional layer. That work is now in progress. We are starting the recharge in the next two hours. All residents will have water by early tomorrow (23 November).”
#UPDATEMAJOROUTING
The welding if the main pipe is complete, we should commence with the flushing of the system shortly. @JHBWater @CityofJoburgZA @NicoDeJager64 pic.twitter.com/GpO1ayuefi— Isaac Dhludhlu-???????????????? (@Isaac_Dhludhlu) November 22, 2017
Joburg Water update is that the repair on the pipeline is done. We are now only doing adding further security measures to ensure 200% compliance. It means that we are delaying the flushing of the system in the interest of safety. Well done to Joburg Water. @JHBWater
— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 22, 2017
Update, 12.20pm:
Joburg Water are ready to commence with the welding of phase 2 of the restoration. We will start preparing for the recharge after second round of welding around 2 pm. Progress is slow but commitment from staff is amazing even after more than 60 hours. @JHBWater
— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 22, 2017
#UPDATEMAJOROUTING
The entity has lost a number of Jojo tanks that have been removed or borrowed illegally /stolen and that impacts on alternative supply to residents @JHBWater @CityofJoburgZA @NicoDeJager64 pic.twitter.com/t5GM8NRn6d— Isaac Dhludhlu-???????????????? (@Isaac_Dhludhlu) November 22, 2017
Update, 11.10am:
Nico de Jager, MMC for environment and infrastructure services, speaks to us about the water outage …
Now entering the final stages of the repair work on the mainline before we start closing the hatch created to enter the pipe. Work progressing well, but it will be quite some time before we normalise supply…probably 12 hours @JHBWater pic.twitter.com/GtqnQuB1Fx
— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 22, 2017
Burst made more difficult to repair because of groundwater and instability as a result of it being a landfill site. @JHBWater pic.twitter.com/YKO7WP93TF
— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 22, 2017
On site with Joburg Water to restore water to the northern part of the city. Joburg Water will not cut corners to restore this line even if it takes longer than expected. The teams have been working 48 hours to stabilise and secure the area. @JHBWater pic.twitter.com/YL5T2H5yNi
— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 22, 2017
Update, 10.45am:
Isaac Dhludhlu of Johannesburg Water speaks to us about the massive water outage.
Update, 10.30am:
#WaterOutage #Sandton @JHBWater @SandtonCentral @Bryanston_High water tankers are not in the places they said they would be, read more here https://t.co/4ZGae60yan Are you making use of the water tankers?
— Ashtyn Mackenzie (@AshtynMackenzie) November 22, 2017
Update, 9am:
Ward 109 councillor, Werner Smit, has visited the Johannesburg Depot in Kramerville to meet the depot manager and coordinator of the water tankers. “More tankers are being dispatched from Alberton,” said Smit.
“I’ve asked them to expedite a tanker on the eastern side of the M1 Marlboro Gardens and Kelvin at the Kelvin Village Shopping Centre in South Way, [as well as] one at the Wendywood Clinic in Wendy street Wendywood.”
Also read: #WaterOutage: Residents frustrated as schools and old-age homes struggle without water tanks
UPDATEMAJOROUTING: Welding has started on the pipe and significant progress has been made. We estimate ETR to be late this afternoon @JHBWater @CityofJoburgZA. Apologies for the inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/VrEBpbqzam
— Isaac Dhludhlu-???????????????? (@Isaac_Dhludhlu) November 22, 2017
Update, 22 November, 8.30am
Councillor Nico de Jager, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, has released the following statement on behalf of the City of Joburg …
I would like to advise residents of the Sandton, Bryanston, Woodmead, Morningside, Alexander, Linbro Park and the surrounding arrears that there were major leaks identified on the main water pipeline that runs through Linbro Park landfill site.
This is the largest repair job ever done by Joburg Water on a main line, and due to the burst being 35 meters deep on a very unstable landfill, we could not risk burying our employees alive during the maintenance process.
I am on site, and will be available for updates during today.
The burst pipe affected water supply, and supply had to be throttled to avoid reservoirs running dry as the recharging will take longer. We hope to flush the system around 12pm and simultaneously open the reservoirs as well. Reservoirs shut down with 1 meter of water left, so that they will have time to refill.
#UPDATEMAJOROUTING: Once welding is done, flushing will begin and pressure will build slowly to refill the reservoirs @JHBWater @CityofJoburgZA pic.twitter.com/PIIaL8nF7F
— Isaac Dhludhlu-???????????????? (@Isaac_Dhludhlu) November 22, 2017
High-lying areas such as Bryanston will take longer to receive water due to the height in relation to pumping capacity.
Estimated time of repair is 1pm, provided there are no further complications.
Water tanks are available at the following points:
- Morningside Clinic,
- Tara Hospital
- Alexander: [6th ave, 13th ave Alex & Vasc, 14th ave Alex & Vasco, 14th ave Alex & Rooth , 12th ave Alex, 15th ave Alex & Selborne, 15th ave Alex & Rooth, 16th ave Alex & Vasco, 16th ave & Selborne, 17th ave & Selborne, 18th ave & Vasco]
- Maritz Brothers School,
- Sandton City
- Benmore Gardens Mall
- Sandown Old Age Home,
- Sandown High School,
- Troop Centre at corner Rivonia and Oxford
- Bryanston shopping centre,
- Petervale shopping centre,
- Bryanston primary school
An additional 16 tankers will also be rolled out today.
Johannesburg Water is committed to providing water and sanitation that is of high quality to all residents of the City of Johannesburg and we apologize to residents for the inconvenience caused.
Details:
24 hour Hotline: 011 375 5555/ 0860 562 874
SMS line: 082 653 2143
Email: Customer@jwater.co.za
@JHBWater we cannot underestimate the power of pro-active communication. Please keep residents informed on the size of the problem. Because of the depth of the repair this is the biggest repair ever done by Joburg Water on a main line.
— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) November 22, 2017
Update, 22 November 6.30am
Johannesburg Water technical teams have worked through the night (21 November) but repair and restoration times still cannot be estimated.
Water tankers have reportedly been placed in several areas as listed below.
#SandtonAlexandraBryanstonMorningsideandLinbroPark. JW technical team working onsite. ^E pic.twitter.com/u6EFytyXtn
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) November 21, 2017
#SandtonAlexandraBryanstonMorningsideandLinbroPark. The technical team experienced some challenges while doing repairs on site last night. The team has come up with an alternative repair process in order to complete the job. (1of 2) ^E pic.twitter.com/U5R0LrazcV
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) November 22, 2017
#SandtonAlexandraBryanstonMorningsideandLinbroPark. We are unable to still confirm an estimated time for completion of repairs. Water tanks that have been placed in several areas will be refilled. We apologise for the inconvenience. (2of2) ^E
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) November 22, 2017
Update, 21 November 9.15pm
Johannesburg Water is still busy on site this evening (21 November) in attempts to get to the pipe and repair it. “They are still cutting away concrete and have not started any welding,” said Ward 103 councillor Vincent Earp.
“Once repaired, the pipes then need to be charged, let the pressure build and then release to refill the reservoirs. Not as simple as turning on an electrical switch. I suggest bank on getting water back tomorrow (22 November) and make alternative plans in the meantime.
“We have four reservoirs affected. If the pipe bursts while the pressure builds up, they will have to start the whole repair process again,” Earp continued.
“This unplanned outage affects a wide range of suburbs including the Sandton CBD, Morningside, River Club Rivonia, Strathavon, Woodmead, Gallo Manor, etc. The outage affects suburbs as far as Fourways.”
Have you seen and utilised the tankers listed below? Let us know on our Facebook page.
#SandtonAlexandraBryanstonMorningsideandLinbroPark Water tanks:•Alex : [6th ave, 13th ave Alex & Vasc, 14th ave Alex & Vasco, 14th ave Alex & Rooth , 12th ave Alex, 15th ave Alex & Selborne, 15th ave Alex & Rooth, 16th ave Alex & Vasco, 16th ave & Selborne, 17th ave & Selborne.
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) November 21, 2017
#SandtonAlexandraBryanstonMorningsideandLinbroPark Water tanks:•
• Maritz Brothers School, • Sandton City • Benmore Gardens Mall• Sandown Old Age Home,• Sandown High School,•Troop centre at corner Rivonia.— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) November 21, 2017
Update, 7pm:
The affected Sandton areas are still without water this evening, 21 November, and Johannesburg water has confirmed that the issue requires a 40m-deep excavation. Welders are set to begin their work at 10pm, which will take 8 hours, this according to Ward 106 councillor Chris Santana.
Water valves should be opened at 9am tomorrow, 22 November, Santana added. Pressure will return to normal after 24 hours. However, according to Johannesburg Water, repair and restoration times can only be confirmed once welders begin their work.
#SandtonAlexandraBryanstonMorningsideandLinbroPark. Please note that this is a deep excavation that is 40m below ground. The pipe is in a large landfill site. The safety of the team is an issue. team needed to ensure that site is safe. (1 of 2) ^E
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) November 21, 2017
#SandtonAlexandraBryanstonMorningsideandLinbroPark. 50 % of the preparation work of the site has been completed for repairs. We will only have ETR once welders have started welding. (2 of 2) ^E pic.twitter.com/bsJPlUn7Zy
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) November 21, 2017
Update, 1pm:
Estimated time of repair completion is still unknown as Joburg Water teams attend to the burst pipe.
#SandtonAlexandraBryanstonMorningsideandLinbroPark. Team is still on-site and we currently do not have an estimated time of completion of repairs. pic.twitter.com/kAMvDDpYwk
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) November 21, 2017
#SANDTONOUTAGEUPDATE JW teams are still on site no ETR. @JHBWater @CityofJoburgZA pic.twitter.com/BGWTjdqWTJ
— Isaac Dhludhlu-???????????????? (@Isaac_Dhludhlu) November 21, 2017
Earlier:
Johannesburg Water has confirmed on 20 November that a major burst of a 600mm pipe which supplies Bryanston, Sandton, Alexandra, Morningside and Linbro Park has lead to reduced water supply.
Burst of 600mm pipe that affects the supply in Sandton, Alex, Bryanston, Morningside and Linbro Park. JW team are on site busy excavating to locate the area. Its quite a complex operation. Residents are urged to use water sparingly, all reservoirs are very low and ETR is unknown
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) November 20, 2017
They have confirmed that technicians are still on site this morning (21 November) and have worked throughout the night, excavating and draining water. No estimated time of restoration is yet known.
Water tankers have been placed in multiple points in and around the affected areas.
Water tanks:Bryanston shopping centre, Petervale shopping centre, Old age home, Bryanston primary school,SPCA in Lonenhill, Sandown old age home, Sandown high school, Troop centre ,Riverclub shopping centre and tanks in Alexandra will topped up.(2of2)^E
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) November 21, 2017
Residents are urged to reduce water consumption due to low water levels in reservoirs.
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Large parts of northern Joburg without water today