WHITE RIVER – Hillsview residents’ joy was short-lived when, after having had their water supply restored on Thursday, taps ran dry again on Friday. This despite confirmation by the Mbombela Local Municipality that the reservoir levels were normal.
Upon enquiry Mbombela reported that another problem had emerged, namely a burst pipe on the line to the Hillsview reservoir. Water was restored over the weekend.
Mbombela’s response to media queries offers more questions than answers. Asked when council realised that the reservoir was dry, it responded that this was reported on January 6, three days after water in Hillsview ran out. Municipal workers only realised the reservoir was dry on this day, despite levels being checked on a daily basis. Mbombela also stated that it had sent a notice regarding the problem on January 5, two days after residents reported the water shortage, and one day before workers reported the empty reservoir.
Read about the initial water shortage here.
