Gallery Update
GEORGE NEWS - A burst pipeline caused severe damage this weekend when a wall collapsed onto vehicles at Tavcor York under the weight of a torrent of water. Gardens and garages in Kraaibosch Manor were flooded as the water swept through the area after the eastern main pipeline burst on Saturday night. The burst occurred in Kraaibosch Manor, between the estate's offices and Tavcor.
On Sunday morning, eight hours after the burst, the water was still running and George Municipality sent out a warning that all the town's reservoirs were almost empty. Residents were requested to use water sparingly. Kraaibosch Manor and the Shell filling station were without water until the early morning hours of Tuesday, when the municipality completed the repairs.
Kraaibosch Manor manager Danie Schmidt is unhappy with the municipality for not responding faster after he had notified them not long after 21:00 on Saturday night of unusual water seepage behind their office. "I was worried that the pipe was about to burst again. It happened two years ago about 25 metres further down in the mainline."
He said a team from the municipality arrived about an hour and a half later. No one in the team knew where the stop valves were and they left, promising they would find someone to assist. "Half an hour later, the pipe burst and a wall of water started running down."
By Sunday morning at 07:30 the water was still running. "No attempt was made on Sunday to repair the pipe. An excavator arrived on Monday."
In the Manor, mainly gardens and lawns were flooded and storm water pipes became clogged with soil. Schmidt said the garage of one resident, used for storage, was also flooded.
Damage to vehicles
Tavcor dealer principal Paul Balmer said the total damage to the vehicles and wall is about R310 000. Some of the vehicles belong to Tavcor and some to clients. "We will definitely talk to our insurers to submit a claim to the municipality. The previous time that this mainline burst, our Mastercars show room was flooded. The probability of it bursting again seems high and I am now considering laying drainage pipes."
The collapse of a wall due to the weight of water from a major pipe burst caused considerable damage.
He said because there had been no negligence on Tavcor's part, damage to clients' vehicles will be claimed by the individual owners from their insurers. "However, we are assisting our clients where we can."
Municipality responds
Municipal communications officer Debra Sauer said according to the emergency services, the fault was reported on Saturday night at 22:02. "Our supervisor on duty was informed at 22:22. He arrived on site at 23:20. The civil engineering team started with the closing of the network system at 23:45."
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This involves the systematic closure of various valves connected to the affected zone. Pressure has to be monitored and reduced gradually before the pipe can be totally isolated from the network. "This can be time consuming, so total shutdown lasted several hours until approximately 04:00 on Sunday morning. The reservoirs ran empty because the pipe that failed is 600mm in diameter and when it fails, a large volume of water is lost in a very short time. The first water tankers arrived at Kraaibosch Manor by 14:00."
Municipality's comment
The repairs to a pipeburst on the eastern mainline which affected water supply to Kraaibosch Manor was completed with water supply restored by 03:00am on Tuesday, 24 July 2018.
According to George Municipality Emergency Services the fault was reported on the 21st of July at 10:02pm by a resident. Our supervisor on duty was informed at 10:22 pm. He arrived on the site at 11:20 pm. The civil engineering team started with the closing of the network system at 11:45pm. It should be noted that the closing of the system is a sensitive process and it involves the systematic closure of various valves which are connected to the affected zone. The Zonal pressures have to be managed and monitored before the pipe can be totally isolated from the network. The pressure has to be gradually dropped and reduced until it can be totally closed and this can be time consuming. Total shutdown lasted several hours until approximately 04:00am on 22nd of July.
The pipe burst inside Kraaibosch Manor Estate and the first water tankers arrived at Kraaibosch Manor by 14:00 on Sunday, 22nd of July.
The reservoirs ran empty because the pipe that failed is 600 mm in diameter and when it fails, a large volume of water is lost in a very short time. This did not affect the dam level at all.
The water mains supply the whole of the Kraaibosch area, Victoria Bay and through to Wilderness as well as Thembalethu. Other areas also affected are the whole of George East, Le Vallia, Rosemoor, Conville, Parkdene, Lawaaikamp, Borcherds and the Industrial Area. All four main reservoirs supply the whole of George, including Victoria Bay and part of Wilderness. When one is out of commission, the demand is shared between the remaining reservoirs, as the system is interconnected.
When the new 12,5 ML reservoir was introduced, at the same site as the existing reservoirs, the level of the 9 ML reservoir was at 30% and the 8 ML reservoirs were empty. The 9 ML reservoir stabilised at 30 % and the ones that were empty quickly recovered to 45%. The levels of all the main reservoirs are currently back to normal.
Approximately 13 ML water was lost. The pipeline was installed in 2007/2008. and the cause of the failure is still under investigation.
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