Water woes bring floods of community support
The issue was caused by a burst water pipe running 350m down Bluff Road near the entrance of Magnor Flats, which saw water gushing into the premises and leaving residents in a state of panic.
CONTINUOUS water woes on the Bluff saw the community band together in camaraderie to help resolve a recent flooding catastrophe.
The issue was caused by a burst water pipe running 350m down Bluff Road near the entrance of Magnor Flats, which saw water gushing into the premises and leaving residents in a state of panic.
“We tried to have the issue resolved the entire day. We had what looked like a waterfall flowing into the premises. Our garages were flooded. Our main worry was the electricity room as there was water also in there. We were worried about any explosions or damage. We were also worried that the road or walkway would give in. Luckily thanks to all the residents on the block and the surrounding community we blocked the water off and opened the drains to try manage the situation. The worker from the municipality eventually arrived and the problem was resolved by the evening. Thereafter, we had to get together to do the clean-up of the subsequent mess,” said Magnor Flats resident, Cathy Doble.
Ward 66 councillor, Zoe Solomon said she was proud of how the community united to help one another when municipal infrastructure gave in.
“We have unmaintained infrastructure and so we have massive issues which are only resolved in the case of an emergency. It’s the unfortunate reality and that is why we need to tackle it in a smart and joint force and that all starts with effective communication.”
“A burst water pipe fault turnaround is 48 hours at most. This is due to resources, the requirement of a TLB and the replacing fullback to finish up the job. All this needs to be done before water can be turned back on. It’s not only about a plumber fixing a pipe. You have other contractors that factor into fixing a water issue. I am on internal departmental groups and have access to officials at the various departments who can inform me of the progress of my reports and priority cases. These are officials who the public can’t speak to,” she said.
Solomon emphasized the need for the community to be prepared for such incidents by joining the WhatsApp groups she has created in order to be better report and follow-up on issues.
“There are road groups where issues are reported and followed up. This makes my job as a councillor more effective. On my side, it is crucial to have relationships with the necessary officials and departments. This was we can have water tankers, plumbers dispatched etc.
“When we all work together, the residents, the department officials, the contractors and myself, there is a lot of camaraderie and the problem is solved quickly. Having road groups and being in communication with the entire Bluff in pockets really does help my service delivery. That’s how I get things done. I also have notice board groups on Whatsapp where I report and post on service delivery issues or any relevant information the community needs to know. I encourage people to get on those groups to avoid unnecessary questions or complaints,” said Solomon in her call for more residents to work together to uplift the Bluff.
