Bergsig water leak fixed, but questions remain over infrastructure monitoring and supply management
A major water leak in Bergsig, which residents say continued for several weeks, has been repaired. However, concerns remain over infrastructure maintenance, bulk water monitoring and the municipality’s response time.
A massive water leak in Bergsig that reportedly continued for several weeks has finally been repaired, bringing relief to residents.
However, the incident has raised ongoing concerns about ageing water infrastructure, response times and the monitoring of bulk water supply in the area.
Residents claimed the leak had been flowing since July and said the matter was reported to the ward councillor, prompting calls for urgent intervention and answers over the delay in fixing the problem.
Ward Councillor Georgia Phillips confirmed that she received the complaint on July 13 and immediately escalated it to Lesedi Local Municipality’s Water and Sanitation Works department.
“I received the complaint and forwarded the matter to the Manager of Water and Sanitation Works at Lesedi Local Municipality. They said they would attend. If I remember correctly, Rand Water was doing maintenance.
On July 14, the water was still running, but I saw Rand Water on site. Last week Thursday, I got another complaint, but they said the plumbers are busy on site. I saw that the water has stopped running and it is now totally dry,” she said.
The leak has since been repaired, ending the prolonged loss of water.
Despite the repair, questions remain about the condition of the infrastructure and the municipality’s monitoring of bulk water supply.
Star Moholobela, Manager of Water and Sanitation Works at Lesedi Local Municipality, said the issue involves a critical water intake point situated downstream of the Rand Water bulk water metering point.
“It’s our main intake just downstream of the Rand Water bulk water metering point. Together with Oom Sieg, we have formally submitted a request for historical data on both the Rand Water and Lesedi bulk water metering points to focus on this critical control point.
“The historical data will help determine the actual volumes of water supplied by Rand Water and whether they comply with the municipality’s take-off agreement,” he said.
Moholobela added that the flooded chamber could be linked to the Lesedi metering point.
“I suspect the chamber that’s flooded is the Lesedi metering point and where the intake gets split between the Rensburg and the Command reservoirs. The pressure gauge, which they always take pictures of to misguide us on what Rand Water actually supplies, is most likely in this flooded chamber,” he said.
