City replaces water pipes in Fresnaye
13 January 2025
Roll out of the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s city-wide R323 million water and sewer pipe replacement programme is gaining momentum. Fresnaye is one of the recent areas to have received new water pipes from November 2024.
The City invested R1,1 million on a complex, open-trench water pipe replacement project from August to November 2024 in De Wet Road, Fresnaye.
The combination of aged pipes and pressure exerted on them by an illegally built, private eight-metre high retaining wall, was determined to be the most likely cause of leaks along multiple sections of the water pipe.After months of extensive planning and obtaining approvals to mitigate the safety risks of the retaining wall, the City was able to replace a total of 60 meters of cement-lined and sheathed steel pipes, specifically chosen for their strength and longevity.
The complexity of the project required specialist skills including:
• Structural engineers who advised on the integrity of the existing, illegal, retaining wall;
• A specialist welding subcontractor to ensure high quality standards; and
• Scaffolding installed to enable access to higher areas along the retaining wall.
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien and Ward 54 Councillor, Nicole Jowell, visited the site late last year, to inspect the progress made.‘Despite the challenges, significant progress has been made to reduce water leaks and prevent water losses in Fresnaye through this pipe replacement.
‘Implementation of the City’s planned, annual pipe replacement project also prepares us for the impact of rapid population growth and urbanisation. It allows us to systematically budget for rehabilitation of the network due to wear and tear of infrastructure,’ said Councillor Badroodien.
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Published by:
Media Office, City of Cape Town
