Faulty valve results in water loss
According to the ward 20 councillor, Clr Jill Humphreys, the overflow was due to a valve that failed to close.
There seems to be no end in sight to the water woes for Bedfordview residents.
Although water has been restored to households and taps are currently running, residents woke up last Friday to find the Signal Hill reservoir overflowing and water running down the streets.
According to the ward 20 councillor, Clr Jill Humphreys, the overflow was due to a valve that failed to close.
She said the system works similarly to the way a toilet cistern works.
When it reaches a certain level it automatically stops pumping, but a problem comes in when the valves are not working properly.
Clr Humphreys said during her engagement with officials from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) Water Services, she was told the pump house was broken into and copper equipment had been vandalised.
Residents living near the Malvern East reservoir said since the incident they are nervous that their neighbouring reservoir might follow suit.
“We have only just come out of a week-long shortage and to hear that a reservoir has leaked makes one nervous. There is no street that separates us from this tank so should it overflow there would be a lot of damage,” said Mr Emmanuel Shivambu, a Bedford Gardens resident.
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said the news of the overflow left him with mixed emotions.
“On the one hand, we know that Rand Water is pumping water into the reservoir, but on the other hand so much water is being wasted when these sort of things happen. I hope there will be a way to ensure this is rectified going forward,” said the resident.
Clr Humphreys has since called for a computerised system that will monitor the water levels in a reservoir.
Meanwhile, EMM urged residents to use water sparingly while water supply is being normalised.
A senior official within the EMM’s Water and Sanitation Department said those running car washes and nursery businesses are exempted from water restriction measures. “These businesses are, however, urged to use water efficiently. The idea is not to kill businesses within our municipality. However, we must be sensitive to the water shortage realities facing our municipality,” said the official.
She said the system is dire need of maintenance.
