Clean water continues to pump out of the pipe at the corner of Pretoria Avenue and Harley Street in Ferndale.

Read more: Unfinished pipe burst repairs continue to leak

The pipe has been gushing water for close to a month. Earlier, in July, Johannesburg Water (JW) temporarily repaired the pipe, after excavating the area, but the repairs were not completed. Their team isolated the water supply to replace a damaged 450mm T-piece, resulting in customers experiencing low water pressure or no water in Ferndale, Fontainebleau, Bryanston, Malanshof, and President Ridge.

Residents, on July 9, again reported that they were experiencing low water pressure, while others had no water. The burst looked worse, with water flowing down Harley Street, and causing potholes on Oak Avenue. A month later, JW hasn’t finished the repairs, and the excavation is filled with water. Waste pickers use the pond to soak cardboard boxes.

Ward 102 councillor Lucinda Harman explained that JW cut the repairs short because they didn’t have the correct materials needed to repair it. “Because of the recent Eikenhof planned maintenance, which affected residents, they decided to do temporary repairs and restore the water. They promised to return, but they are nowhere to be seen, and the burst is worse.”

There hasn’t been an update from the entity, and more questions were sent, however, according to the ward councillor, the JW operations manager in Region B confirmed that they are waiting for a quotation before they can attend to the burst.

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