GEORGE NEWS - Residents in Wentzel and Merriman Streets in George South and Boekenhout Street in Loerie Park are still without water after two pipe bursts at the beginning of the weekend.
In George South some homes have been without water supply since Friday evening.
Myron Rabinowitz reports that an emergency water tanker has been placed at Correctional Services in Union Street, which is also without water.
A smaller tank has been placed in Wentzel Street.
In Loerie Park another small tank is stationed in Boekenhout Street, where approximately 16 houses are affected, and a team is on site.
A standby team from the municipality’s engineering department is now on site at the main water line pipe burst in Merriman Street.
It appears that a section of the old asbestos main line water pipe has been replaced with a blue PVC pipe.
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The problem with replacing sections of the old asbestos pipe is that the pressure point that caused the leak in the system now moves elsewhere and the pressure of the water causes another pipe burst.
George South does have water except for a few houses in Wentzel Street, which runs parallel to Merriman Street, as these houses are connected to the main water line and not to the suburbs feeder line.
This was done years ago.
The main line supplies water to the Correctional Services, the industrial area and Pacaltsdorp.
This is where the municipal officials have been working in Merrimen Street.
Standby personnel from the engineering department have been working around the clock since Friday trying to fix the pipe bursts.
They packed up late last night and returned earlier this morning to continue work.
Since this morning, an additional team from Wilderness and staff from other units within the Department of Civil Engineering were despatched to assist their colleagues in the water distribution unit.
The mainline water pipe in Merrimen street has been temporary repaired. The waterline pipes are still exposed and the surrounding area is very wet but the work area is cordoned off.
The shortage of permanent staff at the Department of Civil Engineering was a point of discussion at the last council meeting on 25 October.
Comment from the municipality in this regard is being awaited.
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