The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is attending to ongoing repairs which have been needed for ageing water and sewage pipelines at Concord Street in Southfield. Action is being taken to finalise these repairs as soon as possible.
Some weeks ago, the Water and Sanitation team started working on an emergency repair to a collapsed sewer pipeline in Concord Street in Southfield which lies four-meters underground. This kind of deep-trench maintenance is complicated for many reasons, including that there is other underground utility infrastructure such as water pipelines and electrical cables.
‘These water and sewer pipelines in Concord Street are many decades old and are quite brittle and fragile. Unfortunately, some can break at the slightest movement. In the process of doing the sewer pipeline repair, the very old water pipeline broke. This was repaired, but further sewer pipe repairs were then also needed. While this second repair was being done, again the old water pipe also broke with multiple failure points.
‘Residents have understandably been frustrated with water supply disruptions of this ongoing maintenance work required. The City sincerely apologises for the inconvenience, but it is imperative that it maintains and upgrades its water supply infrastructure to benefit its consumers. A generator will not be used after 22:00.
‘The water pipeline will now be replaced before further sewer pipeline work can continue. A plan for the remaining work is being concluded and will be shared with the local Councillor for Southfield, Councillor Kevin Southgate who has been monitoring this closely and communicating with residents,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Once a detailed plan has been drawn up, timelines will be communicated. As part of the Directorate’s proactive pipeline replacement program, an investigation will be conducted to evaluate whether a longer section of the sewer pipeline can be replaced.
As water supply is currently restored, residents in the affected area are advised to please store water in advance of the next water service disruption. Store tap water in clean, sealed containers for domestic consumption during this period. In addition, residents should keep their taps closed when there is a disruption, to prevent any water loss and/or damage when the supply is restored.
Updates on this matter will be made available on the City Alerts Twitter page: @CityofCTAlerts, and through Councillor Southgate.
Source: City Of Cape Town