Anger over municipality’s apparent water wastage
Residents have had enough of the municipality's "don't-care attitude, and poor and ridiculous service delivery"
POLOKWANE – Residents have had enough of the municipality’s “don’t-care attitude, and poor and ridiculous service delivery”.
This anger and frustration follows the waste of a large amount of water in Marshall Street, which left some homes in Flora Park and nearby areas without water on Sunday and yesterday (Monday). Residents are blaming the municipality for the waste.
“We are sick and tired of the municipality preaching to us that we must save water, but they do the exact opposite of what they preach. This is nonsense and we have had enough. It is time that the municipality practises what it preaches and improves on service delivery,” one resident said.
“We receive penalties when we allegedly waste water; who penalises the municipality for all the litres of water they are wasting?” another resident asked.
“Today (Monday) water was streaming down Marshall Street and it looked like a little river. It was especially bad on the corner of Marshall and Magazyn Street and on the corner of Marshall and Webster Street. This is unacceptable,” the resident said.
About a week ago litres of water were wasted in Suid and Grobler Street when the municipality allegedly opened fire hydrants in these streets to release pressure in the water pype system while they were working in the area, another resident explained.
“At this rate the municipality will exhaust our water supply in no time,” she said.
Municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, said there was never a deliberate act by the municipality to waste water in any form.
“Water coming out of pipes is a result of damages to the system or part of repairs undertaken. Water seen coming out of hydrants or other pipes is often part of clearing the water from the pipes in preparation of repairs, and thereafter water is let out of the pipes to clear air and sediment that might have accumulated during shutdown while repairs were being done,” Chuene explained. She said the municipality strived to preserve water by all means available.
“Our response times to reported pipe bursts or leakages are quick. There are unfortunate instances where repair work is complex and results in regrettable bulk water spillage.
Repairs are done as soon as humanly possible, to reduce the inconvenience of residents and businesses in the municipality,” she said.
Residents were urged by the municipality to report any water leakages or pipe bursts to (015) 290 2000.
