Water mess on Begonia Avenue
Pipes keep bursting leaving homes high and dry and residents are asking if the municipal water infrastructure is on its last legs.
Popping pipes have infuriated Begonia Avenue residents.
Democratic Alliance Councillor Bertie Meiring has also been affected. He met with the press to point out what he thinks caused the sudden increase in burst pipes, with the situation peaking towards the end of October when a sewage pipe ruptured at the Erica Drive intersection.
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This flooded an open area alongside a residential property and partially collapsed the wall.
Municipal workers, according to the municipality, located the overflowing manhole and gave residents assurances the sewer line had been unblocked and normal flow had resumed.
“The cause of the overflowing sewer was a normal blockage. Once cleared the sewage was no longer overflowing. This would suggest the sewer is not overloaded,” read the municipality’s official response.
It was barely a week later, however, when a water pipe burst, leaving residents in Begonia Avenue without water once again as it instead gushed down the road.
Cllr Meiring is even more worried the water problems will rapidly escalate as the aged infrastructure is placed under
increasing strain with the erection of a new townhouse complex on Begonia Avenue.
Eight units are currently being built with 10 more units planned. He is concerned the new development may cause the water network to collapse entirely.
“I am not against development but the infrastructure must be able to take it.”
The good news is the municipality said it was ahead of the potential crisis and had identified collector mains in the area for replacement.
The bad news however was that the Begonia Avenue line was not among those identified for replacement, which may mean continued water woes for residents in the area.
“Application for subdivisions and developments are considered and commented upon by the various departments within the municipality and housing development receives the same scrutiny. Once all of the comments have been received, the Town Planning Department then makes [its] decisions.”
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Email: Reveshni Douglas (Editor) at reveshni@caxton.co.za
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