UPDATE: Pipe leak in Rosslyn industrial area finally repaired after two years
This leak meant that thousands of litres of clean water were going to waste for the past two years.
The Tshwane metro last week finally repaired a pipe leak in the Rosslyn industrial area – after two years.
This was after the leak, which has been left unrepaired since 2021, was finally fixed by Tshwane technicians on Thursday.
This leak meant that thousands of litres of clean water were going to waste for the past two years.
The underground PVC pipes were damaged and the leak had forced a company affected by the leak to build a channel to divert water to prevent structural damage to its building.
SINKHOLE FORMED BECAUSE OF PIPE LEAK
However, a sinkhole has formed close to the gate.
“We believe that the sinkhole was caused by the continuous water leak,” said facility supervisor, Petros Thabethe.
“We tried our best to divert the water, but there was nothing else we can do.
“We were worried should the problem continue, this hole was only going to grow bigger.
“Who will be held liable for the repairs then?”
Thabethe said the repair comes as a “relief”.
“Fixing of this pipe was long overdue,” he said.
Thabethe said it also caused a problem for the company’s employees.
“We are glad that we won’t have to jump through the water every morning when we enter the premises.
“Two years is a long time and the leaking was starting to become a norm.
“Ladies wearing heels struggled to get across the water. Likewise, we all suffered from dirty cars during this time,” Thabethe said.
LEAK COSTING LOCAL BUSINESS
He told Rekord that the pipe leak had cost the company a lot of money.
“While collecting the water and using it has reduced our water bill, our company has however incurred other costs that we did not budget for.”
These included a higher electricity bill to keep a pump system running since the company was filling JoJo tanks with the water.
Thabethe said that the company keeps eight JoJo tanks on their property that holds about 5 000 litres of water each.
These tanks are filled within less than an hour while the rest of the water is left to run into the drain for the rest of the day.
In-ground water meter boxes that are meant to be kept dry were being flooded with water, said Thabethe.
“This could have resulted in more problems because the valves were made of steel and steel rusts when submerged in water for a long time.
“This situation had frustrated other business owners as they had constant water shortages while water was going to waste,” he concluded.
ALSO READ: Demi celebrates 11th birthday with successful operation
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
