The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Department began repair work to the burst pipeline supplying the De Novo reservoir on the 13th of January. The areas of De Novo, Belmont Park and Klein Begin were temporarily serviced by rerouting of water.   This temporary solution involved cutting into another pipeline and rerouting supply while planning was being done for the permanent solution.

This temporary solution strained the water supply in the area as the water storage levels in the Bloekoembos reservoirs also dropped very low further compounded by the extremely hot weather currently being experienced.

The repair team has been on-site working to patch the pipework in order to restore the service to the affected communities. Unfortunately, unexpected delays has resulted in a longer than anticipated repair period. The repair team has procured high-density polyethylene pipes and bends as well as other fittings to make the old cast iron bend redundant. It is the aim of the repair team to overcome the unexpected pipe bursts due to rapid changes in pressure with this new approach.

During this period the residents in Bloekoembos, Wallacedene, Kraaifontein Industrial and Eikendal are requested to urgently reduce their water consumption as the extremely hot weather and associated increase in water consumption is negatively impacting the Bloekoembos Reservoir levels. This will eventually result in lower water pressure or no water in these areas.

The City remains committed to normalising the water supply to these areas and sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused. The City also extends its appreciation for residents’ cooperation during this very unsettling episode.

It is anticipated that work on this project will be completed by tomorrow evening if there are no further delays. Even though the water supply to the affected areas will be restored, the reservoir levels will take a few days to stabilise due to the hot weather and the increase in consumption.

Source: City Of Cape Town