The City of Tshwane is currently facing significant water supply challenges in Soshanguve areas, with an unprecedented outage in Mabopane.
“We acknowledge the gravity of the situation and understand the inconvenience this has caused to residents said MMC for Utilities and Regional Operations and Coordination, Themba Fosi”
The primary issue contributing to the supply challenges is the extensive damage to existing pipelines in the area. Further challenges in the area stem from various factors, with illegal connections being a significant concern.
Additionally, Fosi said the existing pipelines in Soshanguve have been compromised due to poor workmanship by past contractors, resulting in damage to the water infrastructure.
“The City is fully aware of this matter and has taken swift action to rectify the situation.”
“The regional team has commenced efforts to repair the damaged water pipes, and substantial progress has already been made.”
“We assure the community that the necessary measures are being implemented to resolve the issue promptly, said Fosi.
One of the prominent issues compounding the situation is the high demand in the region, mainly from illegal connections.
“We urge residents to refrain from engaging in such practices, as they not only exacerbate the existing problems but also compromise the integrity of the water supply network. These illegal connections not only impact the ability of reservoirs to fill up but also jeopardise the stability of the water supply.
It is imperative that we collectively address and eliminate these illegal connections to improve the overall situation and ensure a sustainable water supply for all.
“The City of Tshwane remains committed to addressing these challenges comprehensively, and we appreciate the patience and understanding of the affected communities during this time,” added MMC Fosi.
MMC further said that they assure residents that every effort is being made to expedite the resolution of the water issues and restore normalcy to the affected areas.
According to the city, the water supply outage affects residents of Mabopane, and the metro is aware of the concerns raised by residents regarding water supply interruptions.
Consequently, the reservoir level has been critically low for the past few months, causing ongoing water supply challenges in Mabopane’s high-lying areas, which include parts of Block A, B, D, M and S (Sun Valley). Block V, R and T, located under the Odi Hospital and Klipgat Reservoir zone, have also experienced water supply challenges.
To address this problem, the City is working diligently to boost water supply in Block B1 and parts of Block A in Mabopane. As part of the solution, a 350 mm A/C pipe that was mistakenly decommissioned during the construction of a stormwater system in Sun Valley is being reconnected. This pipeline stretches from Mabopane Reservoir to Block A and B. The reconnection process is currently 90% complete, and the final step is to link the 350 mm A/C pipe to the existing reticulation of Block B and A.
While the reconnection process is underway, the City has dispatched water tankers to the affected areas to provide temporary relief.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the water supply outage and assure you that we are working hard to repair the problem as quickly as possible”
The completion of the reconnection of the 350 mm A/C pipe will not automatically bring about supply restoration, as the illegal connections prevent the reservoir from filling up. For residents to receive water, reservoir levels should improve considerably. Regional and Water and Sanitation Department technicians, together with other role players, are working hard to deal with the illegal connections to the network, which hampers the filling of the reservoir.
“We will keep you updated on the progress of restoring the water supply to Block B1 and all the affected areas,” said the City of Tshwane.
