Residents of Douglasdale have experienced repeated water supply interruptions, with Johannesburg Water confirming that ageing infrastructure and pressure-related challenges are key contributors to the ongoing disruptions.

According to the water utility’s spokesperson, Nombuso Shabalala, a combination of technical and environmental factors can cause water pipes to burst, leading to unplanned outages.

Read more: Burst water pipe causes taps to run dry on Peltier Drive in Sunninghill

“These include fluctuations in working and residual pressures due to time of day, demand and usage. These variables lead to air pockets entering the system, which ultimately results in water hammer.”

Water hammer, she explained, refers to a pressure surge caused by a rapid change in water flow, where pressure at the point of failure exceeds the design limits of the pipeline.

This phenomenon is often worsened by ageing infrastructure, subsoil conditions, high water tables and seasonal temperature fluctuations.

Shabalala confirmed that parts of Douglasdale are more affected than others, particularly along Crawford Drive, where pipelines are still made of asbestos cement (AC) material.

“The pipeline in Douglasdale was constructed in 1990 and is AC material,” she said. “Johannesburg Water’s pipelines in the area are ageing, and the plan is to issue work orders and eventually upgrade the water pipeline to uPVC.”

On how fault reports are handled, Shabalala stressed the importance of residents logging complaints through official channels.

“When a call is logged by residents, it is registered on our internal software system, and a reference number is generated,” she explained.

“A job card is then created and assigned to a team. As soon as a team becomes available, they attend to the job.”
She added that logged calls are placed on a waiting list, and unreported issues cannot be addressed. “If the job is not on the system, Johannesburg Water will not be aware of it, which affects service delivery. That is why we always urge customers to log calls.”

Also read: Sunninghill’s water crisis deepens as old pipes fail: Joburg Water has no answers

Regarding turnaround times, Shabalala said burst pipes are generally attended to within 48 hours, although backlogs can delay repairs.

Johannesburg Water also outlined how it communicates outages and maintenance updates to residents. “These are communicated through our daily water notices, which are published twice a day, as well as customer notices shared via ward councillor WhatsApp groups and our various social media platforms.”

She acknowledged concerns raised by Ward 115 councillor Mark van der Merwe regarding ageing infrastructure, confirming that it remains a significant challenge.

“Yes, ageing infrastructure and other factors contribute to these challenges,” Shabalala said, reiterating that pipeline upgrades form part of Johannesburg Water’s long-term plans to ensure a stable and sustainable water supply.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!