The fight against water theft waged by the City of Tshwane has borne positive results as the Mamelodi R4 reservoir levels reached more than 80% mark following the metro's efforts to curb illegal connections that put a strain on water supply to residents.
MMC for Utility Services, Themba Fosi, said it was for the first time in the history of the current administration that the Mamelodi R4 reservoir levels have peaked to 82% mark.
He attributed the milestone to the recent removal of illegal connections from the R3 and R4 reservoirs known to be vital components of the water supply infrastructure for Mamelodi and broader areas.
The illegal connections caused water leaks and damages on the reservoir valve, leading the municipality to close the outlet for repairs.
During the widespread water outage in June due to the Rand Water burst pipe, Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink cited the main issue behind the water shortage in the township as being illegal connections into municipal water systems by informal settlements.
“The informal settlements are a result of land grabs. We are working on re-fencing and removing all informal dwellings by the reservoirs,” he said.
Water theft as a result of illegal connections from reservoirs also affected some residents in Mabopane in April when municipal officials were attacked while acting against the scourge at a local reservoir.
At the time, officials were held hostage and threatened with violence when angry residents who had connected illegally to the network blocked the entrance of the reservoir with rocks to prevent them from leaving.
Regarding the Mamelodi illegal connections, Fosi said: “Our investigations have revealed that illegal connections on the distribution network are contributing to excessive water consumption.”
He said the City is working closely with its stakeholders to dismantle the illegal connections.
“Our priority is to ensure that there are no issues, such as leaks or further illegal connections, when the outlet valve is reopened,” he said.
He expressed satisfaction that the Mamelodi R4 reservoir levels have increased up to an impressive 82% following the outlet’s closure.
“The 82% water mark is a major achievement as it is the first time Mamelodi R4 reservoir has reached this level since the current administration took office. The dismantling of illegal connections has proven effective,”he said.
Fosi said the decision to close the outlet was to facilitate repairs on a damaged valve.
“This exercise was instrumental in confirming that, indeed, the water supply to the reservoir was adequate. Previously, a similar exercise showed that the reservoir could fill up, however, once the outlet was reopened, water levels depleted rapidly within one to two hours. This pattern has indicated that demand outstrips supply,” he said.
Residents were encouraged to report any suspicious or unauthorised utility connections to the City on 012 358 7095/7096 as they pose serious risks to infrastructure and loss of revenue for the city.
Pretoria News
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