Krugersdorp a public swimming pool of wasted water
Despite water restrictions, how much water is being wasted by MCLM due to dilapidated infrastructure issues?
Water is considered to be the world’s most precious resource and recently, water restrictions were imposed in Gauteng.
But how effective are the restrictions from the municipality’s side?
In October, the Krugersdorp News reported that as Gauteng continues to grapple with increased water demands, consumption, unauthorised connections and illegal mining, Rand Water has imposed level-one water restrictions which will be in place until March 2025.
In the same article, Mogale City Local Municipality’s (MCLM) communications officer Refilwe Mahlangu said Mogale currently consumes 354 010 00 litres per day, which is 11 100 000 litres per day over the city’s permitted limit.
• Also read: Water restrictions implemented until 2025
These water restrictions include the prohibition on the irrigation of gardens with a hosepipe, general watering gardens between 06:00 to 18:00 and cleaning patios and driveways with a hosepipe.
Despite this, Mogale is wasting hundreds, if not thousands of litres of drinking water through burst or leaking pipes.
The News visited the sites of numerous major water leaks on November 11, including yet another bursting in front of the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court, one in front of the Van Riebeek flats, one in the field across the corner of Luipaard and Munsi Street and one across the taxi rank on Luipaard Street.
Ward councillor Mark Trump named the leaking valve across the Van Riebeek flats ‘Krugersdorp’s public swimming pool’, as this leak of fresh drinking water has been ongoing for over a year and a half.
“The leaking pipes in the field across the corner of Luipaard and Munsi Street has been ongoing for months now, where it was broken by zama zamas [illegal miners]. I reported it about five months ago, to no avail,” Trump expressed.
He added the leak across the taxi rank has been running for about two weeks.
“The community has to follow the restrictions, but what about the municipality? Around 45% of drinking water is lost by MCLM when it leaves Rand Water before it gets to our homes,” he addressed.
MCLM’s assistant manager for Civil Engineering Thapelo Motshoane disagrees and said they only lose 31% of its water owing to illegal water connections, pipe bursts and leaks.
He also claimed the leak in the field mentioned has been attended to.
“Regarding the Van Riebeek leak, Water Services has procured air valves and is awaiting delivery however, that line has been isolated to limit water losses,” he explained.
