- A resident’s persistent reports of a water leak at an irrigation control valve system near Vygeboom Dam were repeatedly dismissed by the City of Cape Town.
- Despite many complaints and delayed responses, the issue persisted for weeks, wasting significant amounts of water.
- Eventually, after media involvement and continued pressure, the City addressed the leak and claimed to have resolved the issue.
While the City of Cape Town last week insisted a water leakage of clear drinking water at an irrigation control valve system at Vygeboom dam in Durbanville is nothing more than excessive water being transferred by residents from their properties to the stormwater system, an official from the City came in the same week to fix the water leak.
This was more than five weeks after a resident reported the leakage at the irrigation control valve system in Dalsig park for the first time – and after many calls logged (and closed by the City without any rectification of the issue) and much fuss later. According to the resident he reported the leakage at the irrigation system on the pavement of the park opposite 9 Dalsig Road for the first time on 1 June.
ALSO READ: Hole made whole again after residents report their concerns
“Municipal drinking water was bubbling from the irrigation system and streaming down into the dam,” he says.
Case closed
On 12 June he received an SMS that the case has been closed, but when he went to inspect, water was still pumping out.
When he enquired, he was told that a team had been to the area and had indicated that it was just an overflow from one of the opposite private properties that was running down onto the road; there was no water leakage.
“I informed them that there is a bad leakage and even told them exactly where to locate it.
“It was easy to see,” he says. He send them photos of the leakage via Whatsapp, but received no response.
On 28 June he logged yet another complaint – even sending the City a video of the water bubbling out of the irrigation system.
ALSO READ: Leaking pipe spilling raw sewage ‘for months’ outside school posing a health risk to kids
He received two contradicting responses on Whatsapp at the same time: “Thank you for contacting the City of Cape Town’s water queue. We apologise for the delay in response.
“Would you please advise how can we assist you?”, and “Thank you for contacting us.
“Your ticket has been marked as resolved and you have been transferred back to the bot”.
Unresolved
On 1 July the issue was still unresolved and the water continued to pump out of the irrigation line running wastefully down into the dam, he says.
“It surprises me that this can happen within a governing body that prides itself on service delivery, particularly concerning a natural resource that was in short supply due to the drought that the Western Cape experienced not so long ago.
“Tens of thousands of litres of water must have been wasted, as the water has been pumping out for a whole month already and continues to do so,” he said when he contacted TygerBurger on 1 July.
However, TygerBurger received the same confusing feedback from the City.
Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayco member for water and sanitation, says the water and sanitation directorate investigated the matter and reported that the fire hydrant is not leaking and no leaks were detected on the pipes.
“The sleeves indicated in the attached photo are from private property and exit into the stormwater system into the road. This area is known to have a high water table, especially during the winter months,” he says.
Fire hydrant?
Both irrigation boxes clearly states on the lids that it is irrigation control valves.
“The response provided by the City is probably based on the visit that was made to the area on or about 11 June,” according to the resident.
“As mentioned, on 15 June, when I telephoned the City’s water service again and reported that the leakage had not been fixed, I was informed that a team had been to the area and had indicated that it was just an overflow running into the street from one of the private properties.
“However, this was not the case. The problem is clearly visible and should have been easily noticed. It is also clearly visible that the leakage is on municipal property, not on private property – and definitely not a fire hydrant.
“The ‘sleeves’ that the City is referring to, is probably the drainage pipes from private properties, running into the gutter and then to the stormwater drains. Most of the homes in this location have them.
“It is clear that it has nothing to do with a leaking irrigation system pipe,” he says.
Finally fixed
Finally, on Tuesday 9 July he received a phone call from an official of the City that he was at the spot, and wanted to double-check the location of the irrigation boxes.
When the resident received an SMS that the complaint has been closed, he went to inspect the next day and lo and behold, the leakage was finally fixed.
ALSO READ: Long battle to fix leaking water meter
However, the comment from the City’s media office to TygerBurger on the confusion, was even more confusing. According to the comment the issue has been fixed prior or 5 July already.
“Officials of the recreation and parks department officials closed the irrigation system and refitted the one valve box and replaced the lids.
“A follow-up site visit was conducted on Friday 5 July and the department confirms that the area around the valve boxes was dry. A follow-up inspection will be conducted,” according to a statement by the City.
The City did not respond to further questions on the confusion and discrepancy in information.
