City requests residents supplied water via the Voëlvlei pipeline to reduce water usage while a new leak is receiving attention
20 December 2021
The City’s Water and Sanitation Department completed repairs to the 1 525 mm diameter Voëlvlei bulk water pipeline over the past weekend, but another serious leak has occurred in the same vicinity as the previous one. It once again requires that the pipeline be shut down urgently to prevent any property damage and to enable the repairs to be done safely. Residents in Durbanville, Fisantekraal, Klipheuwel and Philadelphia are requested to delay non-essential water consumption to help reduce demand on the network. Every effort is currently being made to maintain supply to communities while repairs are under way and residents’ assistance in this regard would be greatly appreciated. Read more below:
The Drakenstein municipality as well as private consumers along the Voëlvlei pipeline have been informed that water supply to Hermon and Wellington will be affected.
‘The Water and Sanitation Department regrets the second pipeline shutdown which is directly affecting Hermon, Wellington and private users supplied by the Voëlvlei pipeline. The areas of Durbanville, Fisantekraal, Klipheuwel and Philadelphia inside the City’s boundaries are indirectly affected as they are supplied via reservoirs which have sufficient storage capacity to last throughout the repair period. Pipes often form further leaks when water pressure returns after a pipeline section are isolated and closed for repairs. The department prioritises the repair work and estimates that work will take about 48 hours,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
The pipeline will be shut down for approximately 48 hours from 20:00 today, Monday, 20 December 2021 barring unforeseen complications.
The City is making adjustments in the network to ensure consumers’ supply is not disrupted, however, in the higher-lying areas, limited disruption could occur.
Consumers in Durbanville, Fisantekraal, Klipheuwel and Philadelphia are requested to reduce their water consumption during this period to maintain available water supply in the pipe network and reservoirs until repairs are completed.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
