The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Departmental teams completed permanent repairs to the 600mm diameter water mains supplying Khayelitsha. The repairs involved deep-trench excavation, and shoring of the sides of the excavated trench to ensure safe working conditions for the maintenance crew. This work resulted in residents across Khayelitsha being without water on Tuesday, 18 May 2021 from 08:00 until about 21:00. The work took slightly longer to complete due to complications on site.
The 1220mm Tygerberg water pipeline between Giel Basson Drive and Vanguard Drive was also shut off from Friday, 14 May 2021 at 18:00 until Sunday, 16 May 2021 at 13:00, to urgently repair a faulty inline valve located at Smartt Street. This work caused reduced water pressure and intermittent water supply to Brooklyn, Sanddrift, Tygerhof, Rugby, Century City, Paarden Eiland, Joe Slovo, Phoenix, Kensington and Acacia Park.
Read: DWS Calls for Wise Water Usage as Unpredictable Rainfall Patterns Persist
Improving water infrastructure
According to Alderman Xanthea Limberg, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, the City remains committed to minimising water losses due to leaks, while ensuring a stable water supply. “Cape Town’s water loss rate remains the lowest in the country, and we will continue to invest in our infrastructure to further improve wherever possible, as we strive to fulfil the commitments in the Water Strategy and become a water sensitive city by 2040. A water sensitive city optimises and integrates the management of water resources to improve resilience, competitiveness, and liveability for the prosperity of its people,” he said.
