DEAR Editor,-
We received a call from our neighbour just before 8am last Saturday morning to inform us of a burst water pipe near our house in Alamein Drive, Port Shepstone. My husband and I went outside to inspect and found water flowing like a waterfall.
We called the number 039 6885830 to report the leak at 8am. Six workers arrived at 9.30am and started searching for a way to turn the water off and started digging. The water was still flowing at 3pm and the workers were still unable to find the valve to shut it down. All the water that was lost could supply the whole of Port Shepstone, but eventually they managed to stop the water flow. They worked until 10pm and returned again on Sunday morning.
Residents are advised to use water sparingly because of water shortages, but at the same time it is wasted in this way. My question is – who is going to pay for this water loss at the end of the month?
Secondly, during the digging process, we discovered that the water pipe is made from asbestos, which is very dangerous to humans. I understand that these asbestos water pipes have been there for many, many years, perhaps before asbestos was identified as a health hazard. What is the way forward? Should we continue drinking water from pipes made from ‘killer’ asbestos?
On Monday morning I called the ward 18 councillor, Carole Potter, to get advice and she referred me to Lungile Cele at Ugu. That afternoon I phoned Ms Cele’s office and was requested to put it in writing, which I did.
We hope to get answers soon.
CATHY BUCHHOLZ
Port Shepstone
