Has time run out for Newcastle’s pipe infrastructure?
As reports of burst water mains and sewage connections flood in, the stressed systems could be saved by millions of Rand in grant funding.
That is, if the Executive Committee (Exco) approves it.
A report to Exco earlier this month, stated ‘old pipes, including asbestos-cement (AC), galvanised, cast-iron and steel pipes’, had reached their design life.
One example is found at the intersection of Paddock and Percy Riley streets.
Pipes buried deep underground ruptured some time ago, and residents still report a gaping hole of about two metres, near the crossing.
This is just a fraction of the problem.
However, funding from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) might help replace 150 kilometres of piping over three years, it was stated.
The Development Bank of SA has also made millions available.
It was recommended to Exco an amount of R21-million towards smart metering, be moved to fund phase one of an AC pipe replacement project in Lennoxton, Madadeni and the Soul City settlement.
This equates to almost 4 000 households.
It could be a crucial time for this decision, following reports of an underground water leak in Madadeni, which ran up a multi-million Rand bill.
Officials have undertaken an investigation into this matter.
Further reports on the frequency of this problem, and a decision on the pipe replacement project, are also expected soon.
