Temporary water supply interruptions in eThekwini and uMgungundlovu due to pipeline repairs

Residents in the western townships of eThekwini and parts of the uMgungundlovu district are facing temporary water supply interruptions as Umgeni Thukela Water initiates repairs on a crucial pipeline.

Siyabonga Maphumulo, the spokesperson for the entity, confirmed that the 53 pipeline, which delivers 30 megalitres of water daily from the D.V. Harris Waterworks to the Umlaas Road Reservoirs, will be momentarily shut down to address a leak detected earlier in the day.

During this maintenance period, Maphumulo reassured the community that the Midmar Waterworks will continue to supply water to the Umlaas Road Reservoir via the 61 pipeline.

However, he cautioned that areas likely to experience reduced water flow include Point M, Umbumbulu Reservoir, Eastern, Mid-Ilovo, and Mkambatini.

Despite the urgency of the repairs, Maphumulo could not provide an estimated timeframe for the resolution of the issue.

“The artisans could not give us an estimate yesterday(Saturday) when they realised there was a leak in the pipeline.

They need to assess various other leaks to determine the full extent of the damage before they can establish a timeline for repairs,” he explained.

In an effort to mitigate public concern, Maphumulo extended apologies to the residents for the inconvenience the situation may cause.

This leak follows a recent alert regarding elevated levels of iron and manganese found in one of Umgeni's dams, a development reported just a week prior.

While the detection of these elevated minerals has raised alarms, Umgeni Thukela Water swiftly assured locals that the water remains safe for consumption.

Maphumulo elaborated, “The elevated iron and manganese levels in the final water are a direct result of the increased concentration of these elements in the raw water resource at Harding Dam.

Current water quality results indicate that although the final water is out of specification in terms of the limits for iron and manganese, it fully complies with the prescribed health limits as per SANS 241 standards.”