Nelson Mandela Bay's water woes — municipal leak ‘reported before lockdown’

10 September 2020 - 10:52 By Zipo-zenkosi Ncokazi and zipo-zenkosi ncokazi
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According to workers at a municipal building in Kwanobuhle, this water leak has been spewing out clean water since before the start of the lockdown.
According to workers at a municipal building in Kwanobuhle, this water leak has been spewing out clean water since before the start of the lockdown.
Image: WERNER HILLS

While residents have been forced to make do with an intermittent supply, or no water at all, for days, clean water has been continually leaking from a municipal building in KwaNobuhle, Uitenhage.

The building in Ponana Tini Road, housing a customer care facility, a police satellite office and Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) offices, has clean water leaking from the ablution facilities.

Workers there claim the leak was reported before the lockdown. Municipality spokesperson Mamela Ndamase said yesterday officials had referred the matter to the water team who had been instructed to fix the leak within two days.

Meanwhile, infrastructure and engineering head Mongameli Bobani informed Bay residents two water supply zones remained affected by disruptions.

The first was Chelsea zone, affecting Malabar, Westering, Linton Grange, Sherwood, Hunters Retreat, parts of Rowallan Park, Parsons Vlei and Greenbushes.

“This zone is supplied by Chelsea reservoir which is now 7% full. All pumps pumping water to the reservoir are working and the municipality is trying to fill an empty system,” Bobani said.

He said the second supply zone was Emerald Hill and the affected areas were Walmer Heights, parts of Lovemore Park, Mount Pleasant, Miramar, Charlo, Walmer Downs, Overbaakens, Fairview and parts of Newton Park.

“This zone is affected due to insufficient water into the system and an electrical fault on the pump station that pumps water into the reservoir.”

Bobani said no significant rain was predicted for the next three months and he urged residents to use 50 litres or less of water per person per day.

“The system is highly vulnerable as a result of overall demand outstripping supply. Residents are urged to use water for essential purposes only,” he said.

HeraldLIVE


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