GEORGE NEWS - About 30 pipe failures causing prolonged cuts in water supply were experienced at the Groenkloof Retirement Estate last week.

An aggrieved resident wanted to know if this was due to poor workmanship and the standard of materials used during construction since the infrastructure in the village, especially certain sections, is fairly to brand new.

She said it was especially difficult for the residents in the frail care section when toilets could not be flushed for extended times.

Responding to these concerns, Groenkloof Estate manager Martin Barnard confirmed that the entire Groenkloof Village - about 1 000 people - was affected by the disruption. But it had nothing to do with sub-standard materials or poor workmanship. 

"It was a freak incident where a stone got caught in the valve of the main water supply line where it enters Groenkloof.

The stone must have landed in the water pipe system after a failure in the water network outside of Groenkloof in the vicinity of CTM and Kraaibosch Estate. There were rapid and sharp fluctuations in water pressure in the Groenkloof system after the stone was removed. 

The pressure shot up to abnormally high levels, up to double the pressure the system was designed for, and understandably it could not withstand that.

"The network belongs to the municipality and was diligently inspected during construction."

At the same time as these pipe bursts, various other pipe failures occurred in other parts of George. George municipal head of communications Chantél Edwards said these failures were not related to each other and were spread out across the municipal water network.

Regarding the quality of new pipe networks being installed, she said the municipality applies national standards, also in private developments, and installation inspections are carried out.

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