Ageing pipes, N3 construction lead to water supply chaos in Ashburton

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02-10-2024
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The Witness
Source

In the past six weeks, there have been at least 20 burst pipes reported in the Ashburton area.

Ashburton residents are facing a dire water crisis after six weeks of daily pipe fractures that has left the area’s taps dry and residents battling to survive the terrible conditions.

In the past six weeks, there have been at least 20 burst pipes reported and while municipal plumbers work day and night fixing each rupture, the repair only lasts a few hours as the old brittle pipes keep springing leaks when the system is repressurised.

Apart from the ageing infrastructure, residents believe Sanral’s construction of the new Ashburton interchange and bridge across the N3 is also to blame as the project involves the use of extra-heavy machinery and blasting to remove hundreds of tons of rock.

The area most affected by the ruptured pipes is along Pope Ellis Drive in a stretch just a stone’s throw away from the construction zone.

Local councillor Edith Elliott has been tirelessly on-site, co-ordinating with Msunduzi Municipality plumbers, who work under tough weather conditions to repair the ageing pipes. Despite their efforts, the recurring breaks have highlighted the urgent need for infrastructure replacement rather than constant temporary fixes.

It’s a tough position for Elliott to be in, dealing with the frustration of the residents on hand while also navigating multiple stakeholders, trying to secure a permanent solution.

“These lines are not like any other because they are old and narrow,” Elliott explained, referring to the outdated infrastructure that requires obsolete couplings for repairs.

With a 41% vacancy rate and the municipality in a cash-strapped condition, efforts to fully replace the pipes have been limited.

“It is very expensive, and the municipality is short-staffed … The plumbers are doing a phenomenal job with the limited resources they have,” she added.

Residents, including Marcus Elliot, have faced constant disruptions. His yard has flooded seven times in three weeks due to the burst pipes.

“The total number of hours we’ve had water in the past six weeks is 20 hours, and as soon as the water comes in, we shower and fill bottles,” he said.

The financial burden of dealing with the damage and alternative water arrangements is immense, with Marcus estimating costs at R80 000. He said he is considering installing JoJo tanks capable of holding 10 000 litres of water, but added that it is a costly project.

He was also concerned about the welfare of his elderly parents and disabled sister, who live with him. “Can you imagine an elderly person filling a toilet?” he asked, describing the daily struggles they face due to the inconsistent water supply.

Other residents, such as Bonnie Jeudwine, owner of the Wings of Hope Chicken Rescue non-profit organisation, have also been severely impacted.

“We have relied on rainwater just to try and keep the farm going. It’s been frustrating,” said Jeudwine, who is struggling to maintain her farm without a reliable water supply.

Another Ashburton resident, who did not want to be named, raised the issue of Asbestos pipes and how they needed to be replaced years ago. “These pipes are being cracked by the blasting that is taking place because of the bridge construction. Instead of repairing the pipes, they should be replacing the whole thing with new pipes,” he said, suggesting that the municipality should install temporary pipes that run on the surface of the road.

Most of us are ratepayers. We are struggling to even get water to take a shower after a long day’s work. We are not asking for much. We just don’t want to struggle for water.

Msunduzi Municipality spokesperson Anele Makhanya acknowledged the impact that Sanral’s construction activities, including blasting, have had on the ageing infrastructure.

“The project involves building a new road intersection and bridge, which has unfortunately affected our AC pipes, leading to cracks and multiple bursts,” Makhanya said.

She added that the municipality is working hard to address the issue but admitted that the situation has been worsened by the fragile state of the pipes.

“Blasting operations create shockwaves that further weaken our infrastructure,” Makhanya said, apologising to residents for the ongoing inconvenience.

The community is now looking to Sanral and the construction company, Base Major China Construction JV, to help work with Msunduzi to find a solution.

Elliot said she is scheduling a meeting with head of infrastructure at Msunduzi together with Sanral and the interchange construction company, which she hopes will yield results.

Sanral’s Eastern Region project manager Stephné Wilmot said construction of the new interchange has not affected water supply to residents, however, there have been a number of issues reported where Sanral is doing rehabilitation works to the road.

Although the works do not directly affect the water supply to the area, Sanral has been supporting the municipality in its efforts to restore water supply and repair damage to existing municipal infrastructure.

“Relocating or installing water supply infrastructure is not part of the works. Sanral is, however, cognisant of existing services in the area and the utmost care is taken to protect services or reinstate them if damaged.

“The infrastructure in the area is old and unfortunately prone to failures,” said Wilmot.