Emergency teams working full steam to resolve water outage in Hout Bay and Llandudno
13 April 2024
Multi-disciplinary water and sanitation teams have convened in a co-ordinated effort to reduce water service disruptions in Hout Bay. While critical pipe replacement is under way on water infrastructure, frequent pipe bursts caused by the water pressure system and aged water supply infrastructure have resulted in residents experiencing recurring water supply disruptions. The City sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused to residents and businesses while both emergency and permanent solutions are being developed. Every effort is being made to restore the water supply. Read more below:
Water and Sanitation maintenance teams have been deployed to site for six consecutive days, attending to on and off water outages affecting Hout Bay; particularly Penzance Estate, Berg en Dal, Scotts Estate, Baviaanskloof, Hanging Meadows and surrounds, as well as Llandudno.
Many parts of Hout Bay are situated at high altitudes, resulting in the need for a high pressure reticulation system to distribute water to residential households throughout the area. Ageing water pipes are no longer able to withstand high pressure, regulated and stabilised in sections by pressure valves.
As a long-term permanent solution, the City has invested R836,6 million in the pipe replacement programme for the current financial year, with 3 300m of water pipes already replaced in Hout Bay along Baviaanskloof Road, Campbell Street and Scottsville Circle. Work is currently under way for pipe replacement in Victorskloof, Surcingle, Monterey, Almond and surrounding roads, and is scheduled for completion in June 2024.
Unfortunately while the more effective planned solution is being phased in, much of the ageing system and interconnected network of water pipes remains under pressure and is prone to pipe bursts.
On a daily basis, First Level Responder (FLR) and maintenance teams are assigned to conduct emergency repairs. As a priority, to stop high volumes of water loss and to insert new pipe sections safely, water must be turned off for the duration of the assessment and repairs. In addition, once completed, the system needs to be flushed out and tested to determine if the line will hold while pressure is balanced across the complex network comprising of new pipes, old pipes, high pressure points and various sections undergoing repair or permanent replacement.
More recently, numerous water outages have been reported and addressed throughout the week. The latest repairs completed around 21:00 yesterday, Friday 12 April, were being flushed at high pressure points along Andrews Road, with teams working into the night to restore water to all affected areas, specifically along Andrews Street (which affects Penzance Estate, Baviaanskloof, Beach Estate, Scotts Estate and Hanging Meadow), Princess Street (which affects Princess Beach and Berg en Dal).
A pressure release valve in Llandudno is undergoing servicing onsite, This affects the upper areas of the suburb and may result in water disruption for lower lying areas of Llandudno.
This morning a team was deployed to the area again to investigate reports received from residents and the local ward councillor of further water disruptions reoccurring in the same affected areas.
A water tanker is currently stationed near the Shell Garage on Main Road and arrangements are being made for others to be located at strategic locations, including Victoria Road near the Hout Bay Spar.
What residents need to know about water supply disruptions:
1. All sites where water and sanitation repairs and upgrades are conducted
are deemed construction sites and, as such, are off-limits to members of the public.
2. Sometimes the maintenance work can be more complex than anticipated,
which means the work could take longer.
3. For a short period after the supply has been restored, the water may be
discoloured or look milky. This is because of trapped air in the pipes. If left to stand
in a glass, the appearance will become clear, like normal.
How residents are advised to prepare for planned water supply disruptions:
1. Store enough water in clean, sealed containers in advance for use during
this period.
2. Keep your taps closed to prevent any water loss and/or damage when the
water supply is restored
3. For updates on the maintenance work (and location of tankers), please
follow @CityofCTAlerts which is a City of Cape Town X account for alerts and updates.
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
