Residents in several northern Johannesburg suburbs are facing ongoing water disruptions and flooding due to repeated failures along an ageing bulk supply pipeline.

Ward 109 councillor Lori Coogan said the 400mm asbestos cement (AC) pipeline, which supplies Wendywood, Gallo Manor, Marlboro Gardens, and Kelvin, has now burst five times in just over four years. “Recently, our issues with the AC pipe bursts have not only continued; they have intensified.”

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She added that the pipe forms part of a direct feed from the Marlboro reservoir, meaning the suburbs it serves have little buffering when water pressure changes occur. “This bulk supply pipe impacts thousands of residents in four suburbs. When the system is buffered or throttled, even more areas can be affected.”

The latest major burst occurred early on February 21, along Dalton Road in Wendywood, flooding the surrounding area and disrupting the water supply. According to Coogan, another problem occurred this week, when a 210mm auxiliary AC pipe, connected to the Dalton line, burst following a 12-hour throttling session by Johannesburg Water.
She said residents are increasingly frustrated by repeated outages. “The integrity of this line is really problematic, and the number of repairs is unacceptable in terms of stability, costing, and sustainability.”

In addition to infrastructure concerns, the councillor also raised safety issues related to repairs of asbestos cement pipes. Asbestos cement pipes contain fibres that can become airborne when damaged or cut, potentially posing health risks if inhaled. Coogan said she observed workers repairing the pipe without adequate protective equipment. “Two workers were standing in a 4m-deep hole handling broken sections of the pipe with only dust masks and no proper protective clothing. In one instance, a worker was cutting the pipe with an angle grinder, and there was a visible cloud of fibres around his head.” She warned that repeated exposure to asbestos fibres can lead to serious illnesses, including asbestosis.

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The councillor is now calling for the city to consider replacing the ageing pipeline using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) piping, which she believes could provide a faster and more cost-effective solution. The proposed replacement would cover approximately 2.25km between Wendywood and the Marlboro Reservoir. “These pipes are lighter, easier to install, and far cheaper. The total cost could be under R20m, compared to estimates of around R100m for conventional replacement.”

Coogan has appealed to city management and municipal leaders to consider trialling the alternative technology along the route. “This change needs to happen for the health of the workers, the residents, and the environment.”

Questions were sent to Johannesburg Water regarding the repeated pipe bursts, repair safety procedures, and long-term plans to replace asbestos cement pipelines in the city, but at the time of print, we had not yet received a response.

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