Out with the old and in with the new for Hout Bay’s water pipes
5 November 2024
The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is on track to replace water pipes in Hout Bay to help provide a reliable water supply to the community.
As part of the City of Cape Town’s annual water pipe replacement programme, the Water and Sanitation Directorate is actively replacing water pipes in Hout Bay to improve the water supply network and benefit the local community. To date, 5 849 meters of water pipes have been replaced across four completed projects since 2022.
This proactive initiative aims to reduce the frequency of pipe bursts, which occur due to ageing infrastructure and fluctuating water pressure when supplying the upper slopes of Hout Bay.
Since 2022, there have been five pipe replacement projects in Hout Bay
- Project 1: R2,8 million invested to replace 1 600 m of water pipes in Marais, Johan and Scott Roads. Work was completed in May 2022.
- Project 2: R2,5 million invested to replace 1 110 m of water pipes in Valley Road. Work was completed in May 2022.
- Project 3: R4,2 million invested to replace 1 900 m of water pipes in Baviaanskloof Road, Campbell Street and Scottsville Circle. Work started in October 2023 and was completed in June 2024.
- Project 4: R2,8 million invested to replace 1 449 m of water pipes in Victorskloof, Surcingle, Monterey, Almond and surrounding roads. Work was completed in June 2024.
- Project 5: This work is currently in progress. It started in August 2024 and is scheduled to be completed by March 2025. This project will replace 2 500 m of water pipes at an estimated value of R6,2 million in Valley Road, Saddlers Row, Saddlers Close, Martingale Avenue, Stirrup Lane, Stirrup Lane Extension, Mangold Close Welbevind Way, Lilford Road and Bethal Street.
By the end of this financial year, the City will have invested R18 million to replace over 8 500 meters of water pipes across five projects in Hout Bay, spanning roughly two years. These replacements are crucial for stabilising the water supply network and addressing the persistent issue of pipe bursts caused by the combined impact of old infrastructure and high water pressure needed to serve properties on the upper slopes.
‘We understand the frustration residents face when pipe bursts occur, and we want to reassure the community that the City is working diligently to improve the water supply in Hout Bay.
‘Sometimes repair times may be extended in some instances due to the area’s challenging terrain, underground services, and tree roots, all of which must be carefully navigated. However, residents are assured that every effort is made to complete repairs as quickly as possible with minimal disruption.
‘This work is a clear demonstration of the City’s commitment to upgrading water infrastructure for the benefit of our communities. Plans are already in place for a sixth project, starting in the second half of the 2024/2025 financial year, which will see the replacement of an additional 1 000 meters of water pipes along Brink and surrounding roads,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
In line with ongoing efforts to enhance infrastructure, the City is using trenchless pipe-cracking technology for these projects, rather than traditional open-trench methods. This technique is cost-effective, reduces disruptions to pavements and existing infrastructure, and ensures faster completion times, minimising inconvenience to the public.
For context, trenchless pipe-cracking technology involves inserting a bursting head that is hydraulically pulled through the existing fibre cement pipe, breaking it apart while simultaneously pulling a new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe into place, replacing the old one.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office