Water everywhere, but none in taps

A water leak in Makhado’s Mimosa Street gushed out water so fast that, even with the water supply interrupted for the greater part of the day, it dammed up in a driveway and ran down two street blocks.

Neighbours came out to watch precious water flowing away. Ms Yolandi Smit said that the leak started in front of their house, opposite Loerie Park, on 26 May. It was painful for them to see water wasted while there was no water in their taps or tanks and their garden having dried up. In addition, they had to steer their vehicles through the river in their gateway. The fact that the water supply in that part of the town is interrupted for many hours daily made it possible for them to gain access to their premises.

Smit’s mother-in law, Ms Ellie Venter, started phoning the Makhado Municipality on Monday, 28 May. She resides on the same premises. “I phoned many times over the next 10 days, but stopped because I have to pay for all the calls,” Venter said. By that time, the water was running down Mimosa Street, around the corner and into Koedoe Street.

Passersby stared in amazement. Mr Ampie Meintjies from Loeriepark and Mr Samuel Tshifhango, a neighbour from 30 Mimosa Street, stood looking at the water still gushing out on 8 June. “I wanted to go fishing,” Tshifhango joked.

It was Tshifhango’s turn more than two weeks ago, with a burst pipe on the pavement of his residence.

“The municipality eventually did come out. They said the pipe had burst because of tree roots. They opened it up and left, saying they would first have to buy pipes and materials. They usually came back at night to work,” Tshifhango said. This hole was left open, with the soil dumped into the street itself, partly obscuring it. 

Venter reported that the major leak was repaired late on 8 June. She said that the water had stopped running into their premises.

The municipal spokesperson, Mr Louis Bobodi, said that the leak in Mimosa Street had been caused by a mainline pipe burst. "It took some days [to fix] because we were still waiting for some parts," Bobodi said on Tuesday and promised that the hole would be fixed in one day's time.

News - Date: 15 June 2012

Linda van der Westhuizen

Linda van der Westhuizen has been with Zoutnet since 2001. She has a heart for God, people and their stories. Linda believes that every person is unique and has a special story to tell. It follows logically that human interest stories is her speciality. Linda finds working with people and their leaders in the economic, educational, spiritual and political arena very rewarding. “I have a special interest in what God is doing in our town, province and nation and what He wants us to become,” says Linda.

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