Residents in Cape Town’s Ward 71, particularly the areas of Tokai and Klein Constantia, have been experiencing a water outage for over 38 hours. The City attributes this outage to a pipe that burst on Tuesday, with repair work initially scheduled for 3 January.
The City has stated that the prolonged outage is due to the careful opening of the bypass system to avoid further pipe bursts. This measure is part of the process to refill the network while repairing the valve’s shear pin on the main pipeline.
Also read: Preserving South Africa’s ecosystem: A fight for rare birds and plants
According to initial reports on Tuesday, a private contractor inadvertently compromised the integrity of the main water pipe from the Wynberg Reservoir down south, affecting the majority of Ward 71. The excavation began that night, after the equipment arrived. However, the couplings needed to connect the new pipe had yet to arrive from the depot stores.
A follow-up update from the City on Wednesday stated that both the main pipeline and the bypass had to be shut off due to the high pressure on the valve, which measures 500mm in diameter. This shut-off is reportedly essential for the safe repair of the valve.
The City said that the water supply will be partially restored by 6am on Thursday, 4 January 2024, but with lower pressure; however, residents have reported a complete absence of water in the area.
Unleash your inner explorer with these incredible car deals, all priced under R100 000. Find car listings here.
This morning, an update on Ward 71 News‘ Facebook page indicated that there is currently no new information from the City regarding the water issue.
The post mentioned efforts to ensure water tankers are refilled and returned to Tokai Library and Constantia Virgin Active as soon as possible. A Google form has been circulated to gather data on the impact of the outage, which will inform the City’s response.
The City said that it will provide an update at 10am and has advised residents to keep their taps closed. This measure prevents water loss or damage when the supply is restored.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city at half the price? Let these great offers inspire you and fuel your imagination! Get them here.
Also read:
Distress calls flooded SPCA during New Year’s fireworks display
Picture: Luis Tosta / Unsplash