Water pipes in the north will receive much needed attention
Water leaks and pipe bursts can be reported to: waterleaks@tshwane.gov.za, the Tshwane call centre on 012 358 9999 or on 080 111 1556.
The Tshwane metro has announced that it will prioritise the maintenance and refurbishment of infrastructure to prevent water leaks.
MMC of utility and infrastructure Daryl Johnston said R75-million had been set aside for a series of projects to replace 18 420m of pipes in Tshwane, including some areas in the north of the city.
Sinoville ward 50 councillor Lenise Breytenbach said the work had been approved and would start in the greater Sinoville area soon.
She said phase 1 of the work will focus on the areas that have been affected the most by the constant water leaks, including Matlabas Avenue, Anastasia and Antun streets as well as Sefako Makgatho Drive in Annlin.
The scope of work in these specific areas will include:
– The replacement of approximately 7 310m of various pipes including PVC pipes of approximately 370m in length.
– Installation of all necessary isolation valves, fire hydrants and chambers.
– Supply, laying and testing of all pipes and special fittings with required anchors and blocks as per approval drawings.
– Connection to existing water networks.
– Re-installation of existing services.
– Disconnecting the old system.
Water leaks in the north have been an ongoing problem for residents and businesses due to ageing infrastructure with burst pipes reported weekly.
The worst pipe burst was reported in Koos De La Rey Street, in ward 2 that neighbouring business owners said that they had made reports 14 times since April.
Councillor Yolanda Duvenage said that the replacement project in her area started in 2020 and stage 1 should be completed in February 2023.
“Work started in Pretoria North from West Street to Jan van Riebeeck Street.”
Duvenage confirmed that water leaks were still being reported and receiving the necessary attention.
Tshwane has made the maintenance and refurbishment of its infrastructure a priority after parts of Johannesburg were hit by intermittent water supply outages.
Johnston said that water consumption in Gauteng is almost double the global average – at 300 litres against a world average of 173 litres per person per day.
He called on residents to use water sparingly to return Rand Water reservoir levels to targeted levels of 60%.
“But while saving water is critically important, the metro has a responsibility to ensure that we maintain our water infrastructure to reduce water leakages.”
He acknowledged that more needed to be done in making sure that all outstanding issues are sorted, adding that this will happen as the metro’s financial position stabilises.
Breytenbach praised residents in her ward for using water sparingly and reporting water leaks immediately.
“After Rand Water implemented stage 2 water restrictions in October, we have run awareness campaigns in the area to ensure that we focus on the crisis.
“Let’s keep on saving every drop and reporting water leaks immediately.”
Water leaks and pipe bursts can be reported to: waterleaks@tshwane.gov.za, 012 358 9999 or 080 111 1556.
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