Tshwane metro replaces more than 50-years-old decaying asbestos water pipes
East of Pretoria suburbs such as Maroelana, Hazelwood, Waterkloof, Ashlea Gardens and Alphen Park are set to benefit from the project starting this week.
A project by the Tshwane metro to replace ageing asbestos cement water pipes in the suburbs of the east of Pretoria kicked off last week.
The 12-month-long project started last Thursday in Maroelana, Hazelwood, Waterkloof, Ashlea Gardens and Alphen Park, according to ward 82 councillor Siobhan Muller.
“The existing information shows that the current water network is more than 50 years old on average.
“The existing water network comprises asbestos cement pipes. Asbestos cement pipes are a health risk and prone to bursting under slight ground movement and in expandable soil conditions,” the municipality’s project scope read.
Muller said frequent water leaks highlighted the need for the municipality to replace the water infrastructure.
“The existing pipes are more than 60 years old and they break continually. The municipality repairs one leak and a week later a few metres away from the first one, the pipe raptures again.”
She described water loss due to leaks as “tremendous”.
“The asbestos pipes have long passed their sell-by dates. They should have been replaced 15 years ago already. This project will save the metro’s revenue in water losses and ensure better service delivery to the residents,” Muller said.
Muller said this was the second phase of the water pipe upgrade.
“The first one was done between 2018/19 and after that, the leaks decreased.”
Western parts of Waterkloof were faced with constant leaks, she said.
Earlier this year, mayor Randall Williams said R1.2-billion was earmarked for refurbishing ageing water and electricity infrastructure in the municipality’s new financial year budget, which comes into effect in July.
Williams said in the 2020/21 financial year, the Auditor General’s report again raised concerns over electricity and water financial losses. Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke’s 2019/2020 municipal finance management audit outcomes found that water and electricity losses hit Tshwane’s revenue collection hard.
“In the current financial year, R180-million was spent on water demand and water loss projects with over 14km of old asbestos and cement water pipes replaced in the process,” Williams said in his State of the Capital Address in April.
“It has become clear that one of the key focus areas to take the metro forward is maintaining and refurbishing critical water and electricity infrastructure.
“It is no secret that our electrical infrastructure is aged and has become vulnerable, easily catching fire and regularly breaking down.”
Upgrades will take place in the following streets over the next 12 months:
– Matroosberg Road to Garsfontein Road
– Garsfontein from N1 to Selati Street
– Selati from Garsfontein to Cecilia Road
– Cecilia Road from Nuwe Hoop Street to New Hope school
– Genl Kock Road
– Maria Bronkhorst Road
– Koelman Road
– Roelien Street
– Lebombo Road
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