Pipe problems plague Knysna
Ageing water pipes have led to problems with consistent water supply for residents of Knysna, with eight pipe bursts reported by Knysna Municipality on its Facebook page in the past month.
Of the eight pipe bursts between 3 September and 5 October, six happened in the past two weeks (since 21 September). These always lead to some form of water disruption for nearby residents, as the municipal teams have to shut off the water supply in order to work on the burst.
Furthermore, of the eight pipe bursts, five have occurred in either Upper or Lower Old Place. The affected areas were Fitchat Street, Heuwelkruin; Hill Street, Upper Town; and Calendar Street, Hornlee.
Municipal spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhoudt attributed the persisting pipe issues to “ageing” infrastructure. “From time to time, we get these [bursts] because of the ageing water infrastructure in and around areas of Greater Knysna,” he said.
“However, the municipality has plans in place to gradually upgrade this infrastructure to improve the level of provision of water services.” He said that underground pipes are “difficult to maintain” and that they are only replaced when a break occurs. “Only valves and pumps are maintained.”
As the area where the most bursts have occurred, Old Place is naturally a cause for concern. “We acknowledge that the residents of Old Place were subjected to non-availability of water on numerous occasions and this has been treated as a matter of urgency at all times, as and when these pipe bursts occur,” Bezuidenhoudt clarified.
“Like any other systems and machinery, the water infrastructure has a life span which eventually needs attention and replacement. Having had this infrastructure for more than 60 years now, it is inevitable that such pipe breaks will be experienced and it still falls within the municipality’s responsibility to repair such.”
Bezuidenhoudt also explained that it may take days before a dug-up is properly covered, as a repaired water pipe needs to be observed for a few days before it is permanently covered.
This is why trenches are sometimes closed using soil first, and only later covered with tarmac.
A part of Dikkop Street where a burst water pipe was repaired. It is covered with soil for a few days’ observation before getting a final layer of tarmac.
Photos: Blake Linder
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News