First CBD water pipeline repair completed as outages continue
Repair teams remain on site as efforts continue to restore supply.
The Tshwane metro has completed repairs on the first of two burst sections of a 1 000mm bulk water pipeline that supplies parts of the Pretoria CBD and surrounding areas, marking significant progress in efforts to restore normal water supply.
This follows the implementation of an emergency water supply shutdown due to a major pipe burst at two separate locations on June 21.
MMC for Utility Services, Frans Boshielo, confirmed that repair teams have successfully installed a replacement pipe at the first burst location and are finalising the securing of connections before proceeding with repairs to the second damaged section.
“The metro was first alerted to a major water leak on June 21 near Pretoria Gautrain Station, adjacent to the former Mercedes-Benz dealership. Subsequent investigations identified bursts at two separate locations on the 1 000mm bulk water pipeline. The affected section of the network was isolated and excavation work commenced immediately to facilitate repairs and prevent further water losses,” he said.
According to Boshielo, work on the second damaged section is already underway after it was excavated and fully assessed.
Tshwane water team offloading the pipe from a truck. Photo: Supplied
He said repair teams have been working continuously since the burst was detected and noted that every available resource remains deployed to ensure repairs are completed safely and that the water supply is restored as quickly as possible.
“The interruption has affected parts of the Pretoria CBD, Arcadia, Eastwood, Sunnyside and Bryntirion, as well as several healthcare facilities, government institutions and businesses,” said Boshielo.
To reduce the impact on affected communities, he said the metro activated emergency response measures and deployed water tankers.
“These tankers will remain operational until normal water supply has been restored,” said Boshielo.
He mentioned that the metro’s response forms part of the ongoing Water Stabilisation Plan, which is aimed at strengthening the municipality’s ability to respond rapidly to major infrastructure failures while investing in the long-term resilience of the water network.
“Under the programme, the city has expanded its emergency response capability, increased the availability of municipal water tankers, strengthened maintenance interventions and accelerated investment in critical water infrastructure. The metro has also procured 44 additional water tankers to improve its response capacity and reduce reliance on external service providers,” said Boshielo.
He said a projected timeline for the restoration of supply will be communicated once repairs to the second burst section have been finalised and the pipeline has undergone the necessary testing and commissioning processes.
Tshwane water team repairing the pipe. Photo: Supplied
Boshielo thanked residents for their patience and co-operation during the disruption and encouraged consumers to continue using water responsibly while restoration efforts continue.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank residents for their understanding and patience. The metro remains focused on restoring supply as swiftly as possible while continuing to implement long-term interventions that will secure a stable, resilient and dependable water future for all residents of Tshwane,” he concluded.
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