Pictured: The damaged major 700mm Joburg Water main pipe that burst

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) had to make provision last week to temporarily supply domestic water to residents of Morninghill and Senderwood through roving water tankers following a major Johannesburg Water pipe burst the afternoon of 20 April 2013, that caused damages to at least 10 properties, according to EMM Spokesperson Sam Modiba.

A huge pipe burst at Johannesburg Water’s 700mm line caused the Ekurhuleni municipality’s water pipe supplying the affected areas to be washed away on the day. The pipe burst further resulted in a forceful gush of running water that dug trenches along the way, some more than five meters deep, for almost a kilometre from the hill – where the pipes are located – to nearby downhill properties.

“The incident took place around midday Saturday, 20 April and the Ekurhuleni disaster and emergency management services had to rescue a woman who was trapped in her house and had no ways out,” explained Roggers Mamaila Emergency Services spokesperson adding that they were relieved that no one had been reported injured from this incident.

The course of the pipe burst and the extent of the damage was still to be established.

Ekurhuleni water and sanitation, Joburg Water and Rand Water engineers are site working around the clock attending to the situation with the hope of restoring supply in the next 24 hours.

“From Ekurhuleni’s side we are looking at establishing an alternative water supply to Morninghill via the Bedfordview feeder mains, whereas, Senderwood which is solely dependent on the damaged line will continue to be supplied through water tankers until the damaged pipe is repaired,” explains municipal spokesperson Sam Modiba.

For more information, contact EMM spokesperson Sam Modiba on 072 515 3022 or Emergency Services’ Roggers Mamaila on 079 875 1240.