Frustration is mounting in Westbrook after more than 10 pipe bursts in six months continue to disrupt the community’s already fragile water supply.

Households have frequently gone one or two days without water, either because the local reservoir was reportedly empty or due to repeated pipe failures across the suburb. Resident Matthew Coertzen said some pipes had been repaired “five or six times” in the past year, raising concerns about whether the fixes are effective or whether the ageing system can no longer cope. Many fear the outages will persist unless the city commits to major infrastructure upgrades.

Ward councillor Geoff Pullan said Westbrook’s water network was installed in the 1970s using concrete asbestos pipes, which are prone to cracking when the ground shifts. Even tree roots can place pressure on the brittle system.

“When there is a break, the municipality only replaces the broken length, usually about three metres,” he said.

Much of eThekwini, he added, struggles with deteriorating infrastructure, and the city loses more than 50% of the water it buys from Umngeni Water, partly due to leaks from cracked pipes. Pullan said delays are made worse by the current repair process: plumbers first assess the fault, then return to the depot for parts and only afterwards complete the repair.

The Westbrook network was originally designed as a ring main to allow water to be redirected so most households would remain supplied during a break. However, this relies on all valves being functional and on officials knowing their exact locations.

“The rationing of water by Umngeni Water does not help, but we understand why they do this,” he said.

He added that filling vacancies and hiring competent staff would help improve service delivery. Pullan also urged residents to report the precise location of leaks to speed up response times.

eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said teams were working to stabilise the network. She said recent fluctuations were linked to increased pressure after the city opened an alternative supply line to maintain flow while access to the main line was limited. This temporary arrangement placed strain on already weakened pipes.

Sisilana said a section of pipeline identified for urgent replacement is being repaired this week. Municipal teams are also clearing access routes to speed up the work, which is expected to be completed by Friday.

She said the latest interruptions were unplanned, preventing the city from issuing advance notice.

“The city remains committed to ensuring a reliable and consistent water supply to Westbrook, Seatides and surrounding communities.”

Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.

Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.