A major bulk water pipe in Wendywood has been repaired, but questions are now being raised about the long-term stability of the infrastructure supplying four suburbs.

Ward councillor Lori Coogan returned to the site on Dalton Road, following the February 21 burst, which resulted in extensive flooding and water outages in parts of Wendywood and surrounding areas. According to Coogan, the damaged section formed part of a 400mm asbestos cement bulk supply pipe that feeds Wendywood, Gallo Manor, Marlboro Gardens and Kelvin. A four-metre section of metal pipe was installed to replace the damaged portion.

Read more: Ward 91 councillor flags alleged illegal billboard at Innesfree Park

She said the pipe burst in the morning and repairs were completed late that night, with valves reopened the following morning to restore supply to residents. While acknowledging that the turnaround time was unusually quick, Coogan expressed concern over how rapidly the repair site was backfilled.

“Normally, when there is a major or even smaller water repair, the site is left open for a few days or longer to ensure there are no resultant leaks before it is secured. In this case, soil and broken material were returned to the hole by Sunday evening.”

Coogan questioned why the area was covered so quickly, asking whether sufficient monitoring had been done before closing the excavation. The councillor highlighted what she described as a pattern of recurring failures along the same bulk line.

Since November 2021, multiple bursts have reportedly occurred along the stretch, with sections of stainless steel pipe welded in to replace damaged portions.

Also read: City Power attributes Ward 81 outages to cable damage and infrastructure failure

She explained that on either side of the newly installed four-metre metal section, the original asbestos cement pipe continues underground. In some areas further along the line, additional stainless steel patches have been inserted following previous failures. Her concern is that only a limited stretch of original asbestos cement pipe now separates reinforced metal sections, raising questions about structural integrity under pressure.

“How stable will this pipe be when it must supply four suburbs? I am very concerned that this pipe could burst again.” Coogan said the asbestos cement infrastructure is long overdue for replacement and urged authorities to prioritise a comprehensive upgrade rather than repeated reactive repairs.

Questions have been sent to the utility regarding long-term plans for the replacement of the bulk line and whether an infrastructure assessment is underway.

Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!