Executive Mayor Zanoxolo Wayile called on residents of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to conserve water today as two pipelines that supply the city with water from the Churchill and Impofu dams collapsed.
Mr Barry Martin, Acting Executive Director of Infrastructure and Engineering, said that repair to the pipes, a 700 mm in diameter steelpipe and a 1 000 mm in diameter concrete pipe in the vicinity of the Van Stadens River Resort have commenced.
Since these pipelines supply a third of the water supply to the city, some areas will be affected after approximately 24 hours when reservoirs ran dry.
Areas affected are: Central, Deal Party, Summerstrand, Humewood, North End, Korsten, Struandale, Mount Pleasant, Lovemore Park, Lovemore Heights, Algoa Park, Struandale, Gelvandale, Gelvan Park and parts of New Brighton and KwaZakhele.
When areas experience a water shortage residents are urged to call the all hours Operational Centre at 0800 20 5050 in order for water tankers to be dispatched.
Water from the remaining two sources, Loerie and Nooitgedagt (Gariep Dam) are being rerouted to limit the number of areas that will be affected. Staff is already busy with this and large construction equipment is being moved to the damaged pipelines for the construction to commence.
NMB Communications
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When Walvis Bay was hit with a similar crisis last year, the authorities immediately instituted rationing – switching the water off for most of the day.
A much better solution than relying on the civic mindedness of residents. Here it would also conserve water by closing off the leaks.
Suggest that the municipality arranges an urgent conference to discuss this solution. Would have to off site. London is nice at this time of the year.
Hi Ed. I hope you’re being sarcastic when you’re saying they should organise a conference and discuss the crisis in London!!!
Even instituting rationing requires civic mindedness of residents that they don’t suddenly run a big bath when the water is switched on! We have to respect that there are hospitals and urgent industries that the require the water more than a toilet or a long hot shower. If we all just make a little sacrifice and consider these industries, it will go a long way!