Update
GEORGE NEWS - The Municipality has confirmed that the customised piping and fittings have arrived first thing this morning. Coupling of pipes is underway and should be complete around lunchtime, after which the lines will be tested.
If all goes according to plan and the pipes and fittings hold, water will start pumping from the waterworks near Ebb and Flow to the high lying reservoirs above Hoekwil and Touwsranten.
Once the required pressure has built up at the reservoirs, a process that takes a few hours, water will start pumping into the supply pipes in Hoekwil and Touwsranten.
Water is expected to reach households by early evening, around 18:00, but water pressure may still be weak for a while as residents are likely to use water for several hours into the night.
Full water pressure is expected to return in the early hours of tomorrow (Wednesday).
Water trucks will remain until water has been sufficiently restored or until 21:00 tonight, depending on circumstances (details of trucks below).
The municipality understands the frustrations of residents and apologises for ongoing delays that are truly out of their control.
George Municipality reiterates that the challenges associated with joining old generation steel pipes with modern piping is not straightforward, and different measures that have historically been applied successfully on other similar couplings have not worked at the Ebb and Flow site.
Due to the cost of custom steel piping, such as was eventually needed to resolve this issue, the municipality goes this route as a last resort. They still believes the long-term sustainability of infrastructure must consider the bigger picture that includes the systematic upgrade and replacement of old infrastructure with affordable modern alternatives.
There are times that this is not possible, but the municipality owes it to all its residents to investigate and try all cost effective and responsible repairs within this framework.
The George Municipality again apologises for the situation and remains committed to provide services with the resources available to us under challenging circumstances.
Water trucks are roaming or stationed according to requirements in Hoekwil and Touwsranten at Adonis Street, Jasper Street, Thyz Jacobz Retirement Village and Denneboom Street.
The fire department water tanker is stationed at Touwsranten Superette.
