uMhlanga taps run dry after bursts on aqueduct pipeline
Water should return shortly as supplies to the reservoirs around uMhlanga are being restored, and the ward councillor has urged residents to use water sparingly once it has been restored.
RESIDENTS in uMhlanga are once again without water after two bursts on the Northern Aqueduct bulk pipeline.
In recent months, areas north of Durban have had no water or an intermittent water supply, which has led to growing frustration.
In February this year, the City replaced more than 70 defective air valves along the 32km line to improve the efficiency of water flow and to increase pressure.
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According to Ward 35 councillor Nicole Bollman, the two bursts on the main pipeline have been attended to, however, supply to the reservoirs around uMhlanga is slowly being restored.
“On Thursday, teams from the eThekwini Water Services (EWS) had to close the outlets to the reservoirs because of the severity of the bursts and to stop them from running dry. The two burst [repairs] have now been successfully completed, and the line has been opened again. To pressurise the line will take time, and I’ve been assured by EWS that the outlets to the reservoirs will be reopened again.
“Technicians are field-checking to ensure that water is entering most reservoirs, carrying out dip tests and will start opening once the reservoirs reach an acceptable level. I again ask residents to use water sparingly once supply has been restored as the water situation is not getting better,” she said.
“A water tanker for the area has been requested,” added Bollman.
Last month, the City said the estimated cost of fixing the defective air valves, as part of a replacement programme, is approximately R7 million.
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