Car hits water meter, leads to flooding of two properties
The water was due to a water meter being allegedly knocked down by a motorist.
There is nothing more frustrating to experience as a property owner, than being subjected to flooding due to a water leak. This was the case for two homes in Waterval Estate when a leaking meter threatened some measure of ruin to their respective homes.
Read more: Pay your water bills, or risk being disconnected
The leak began on January 20, when the meter in question, found along De Le Rey Road, was allegedly knocked over by a motorist who fled the scene. To divert the heavy amounts of water leaking onto the property, a furrow was dug, ensuring the water ran down the road. This measure was to ensure the structural integrity of the house, as water was running under the property, and although this did the trick, a second property, found along Botha Avenue, was inadvertently flooded.
Johannesburg Water (JW) did eventually come to attend to the leak, on January 22, which, according to Ward 88 councillor Nicolene Jonker, given that their response time is meant to be 48 hours, was expected. “However, if there’s significant water loss, residents are encouraged to ask for the situation to be escalated so that repairs can be prioritised.” She said that there are many challenges the entity faces that makes their response times difficult, such as: resource constraints, backlogs, communication gaps, and the aged infrastructure. Not withstanding a ward councillor’s limitations, which are: no operational authority, dependence on reports, and a prioritisation system JW works by, which sees them sometimes favour emergencies over less severe problems.
Also read: JW updates meter-reading schedule
With regards to the motorist who is alleged to have knocked over the meter, she said: “If a motorist is found to have caused the damage, they could potentially be held accountable under civil law for negligence.”
Those at fault for damage to a water meter can assist by:
• Reporting the incident to JW without delay.
• Offering to pay for repairs if they take responsibility.
• Talking with affected residents to work towards a mutually agreeable solution.
Jonker ended by saying that in circumstances like this, residents can also seek help from local law enforcement to create an official report, which could aid in sorting out liability matters with the motorist.
Follow us on our Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok pages. Join our WhatsApp group for any story ideas you may have.
Related article: Scammers acting as JW officials
