Johannesburg Water says the asbestos cement pipeline supplying parts of northern Johannesburg is still within its operational lifespan, despite repeated pipe bursts and water disruptions.

The response follows concerns raised by Ward 109 councillor Lori Coogan about the reliability of the ageing infrastructure serving Wendywood, Gallo Manor, Marlboro Gardens, and Kelvin. Coogan said the 400mm bulk supply pipe has burst five times in just over four years, leading to flooding, prolonged outages, and repeated repairs.

Read more: Pipe burst sinkhole halts Pretoria Avenue reopening in Sandown

She also raised concerns about worker safety during repairs, saying asbestos fibres released from damaged pipes can pose health risks if proper protective equipment is not used.

Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala confirmed the number of failures along the pipeline. “A total of five pipe failures have been recorded along this specific bulk line since 2021.”

She added that tree roots are the most common cause of pipe bursts in the area. The utility also confirmed that water throttling will continue as part of demand management measures.

Also read: Repeated pipe bursts flood Wendywood with safety and infrastructure concerns

Johannesburg Water said pipe replacement forms part of an ongoing infrastructure programme, with discussions continuing about suitable replacement materials.

No timeline for replacing the Wendywood pipeline has been provided.

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