Dripping water from a tap in Dunoon. | Cindy Waxa/ Independent Newspapers
In response to the article on page 1, titled, “Short-sighted”, city water plan get thumbs down on Friday October 11. As a former Water Reticulation Superintendent I agree with Water Restriction Measures as most municipal reticulated systems are unbalanced and are overpressurised causing losses on average of 40%. Purification Plants use up to 10% of purified water for backwashing/cleaning of plant etc.
Before any restrictions are put in place the following must occur:-
1. Purification plants both input and output bulk meters need to be installed with volume and pressure logging remote capturing facilities.
2. Purification plants need proper monitoring/auditing maintenance procedures in place.
3. Strict monitoring of water tanker filling points.
4. Proper staff placement has to be in place.
5. All plants, reservoirs, pump stations and reticulation systems be declared National Key Points.
6. If water is supplied by third parties check meters be installed for supply verification.
7. All reservoirs are to have inlet and outlet metering systems to monitor consumption.
8. Zonal or district meters with remote logging capabilities for consumption and pressure be created for each reservoir to breakdown supply zones.
9. Auditing of zonal supply with regards to water balancing this must include for authorised non-revenue consumption(free stand pipe water), pipe burst, fire fighting and water tanker filling and factoring in real losses (leaking valves, overflowing reservoirs, inaccurate meters. Government facilities such as schools, police stations, clinics and hospitals are notorious for not having functioning meters.
10. Age analysis of all pipe lines and infrastructure, consumers meters as meters lose accuracy over time.
11. Physical inspection of pipe lines and annual leak detection using leak noise correlation.
12.Pressure management measures to be implemented with a minimum of 2.5bar and maximum of 3.5bar at consumer meters.
13. Faster turn around response to pipe burst i.e. some bursts need to be shut down sooner, as they cannot be repaired immediately.
14. Plumbing teams need to be monitored with regards to skill levels, response times, work output, materials used and quality of workmanship.
15. Standard Work Procedure Manuals to be developed and enforced as standards and procedures vary from one municipality to another.
16. All plumbing teams to be issued sufficient tools and current updated reticulation drawing of their work areas as they are often seen battling to find valves and end up closing larger areas than are necessary.
17. Sub contracted work needs to be validated as most work can be done internally with the correct supervision.
Duncan Cotton | Durban
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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