Maintenance leads to water crisis

According to Notten Road resident, Corle Greyling the problem started with a burst water pipe on 25 June. Since the first burst water pipe residents of Morgenster Crescent, Notten Road and McClear Road in Lonehill have on average experienced a burst pipe every day. The Lonehill Residents Association met with Johannesburg Water on 23 July and were told by representatives that the burst pipes were a result of the entity servicing all the pressure relief valves in the greater Johannesburg area, including Lonehill.

According to representatives of Johannesburg Water, the current short-term plan for Lonehill is to minimise the number of burst water pipes by reducing the water pressure to 2.5 bars which should alleviate the strain on the system. This means that the water pressure in the area will be reduced, which should not affect appliances, but will affect irrigation systems.

The Lonehill Residents Association is urging residents to assist Johannesburg Water with their maintenance by not landscaping their pavements. Kelly Braum of the residents’ association said by landscaping their pavements residents run the risk of Johannesburg Water having to dig up the area to locate or repair a burst pipe. She added that irrigation systems should not be placed on verges. Johannesburg Water said in most instances isolated burst water pipes were caused by invasive tree root systems. The Lonehill Residents Association also advised residents when planting grass not to cover up water meter and fire hydrant markers.