Zahid Badroodien, Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation, with the contractor on site at the pipe replacement project in Hout Bay. PHOTO: Included
- In February, the city began the second phase of the Hout Bay water pipe replacement project, which will replace 1,449 m of water pipes in Victorskloof, Surcingle, Monterey, Almond and surrounding streets.
- The first project to renew 1,900 m² began in October last year.
- The first phase of the project is reportedly ahead of its expected completion date this month.
Using advanced trenchless pipe cracking technology to replace old fiber cement pipes, the city's Water and Sanitation Directorate is in the process of replacing just over 3,300m of water mains in Hout Bay.
The city is currently replacing water mains along Baviaanskloof Road, Campbell Street and Scottsville Circle.
In February, the city began the second phase of the Hout Bay water pipe replacement project, which will replace 1,449 m of water pipes in Victorskloof, Surcingle, Monterey, Almond and surrounding streets. This work is expected to be completed in June this year.
The first project to renew 1,900 m² began in October last year. Public reports play a crucial role in assessing the need for pipe replacement.
In this case, the age of the pipes and frequent bursts led to the decision to replace them.
Zahid Badroodien, Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation, along with Roberto Quintas, Councilor for Ward 74, visited the project to assess the progress.
The first phase of the project is reportedly ahead of its expected completion date this month.
“As part of the mayor's priority program, the Water and Sanitation Directorate has expanded its water and sewer pipe replacement program,” he said.
“To this end, R836.6 million has been allocated for pipe replacement and infrastructure maintenance for the 2023/24 financial year.
“I am pleased with the continued progress of this program.”
For many ongoing pipe replacement projects, the municipality is choosing trenchless pipe cracking technology instead of the traditional open trench method.
This innovative approach uses a bursting head that is hydraulically pulled through the existing fiber cement pipe, thereby breaking it apart.
At the same time, a new pipe made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is pulled behind the bursting head, effectively replacing the old pipe.
This method has proven to be cost-effective as it causes minimal disruption and allows for faster turnaround times.
Successful implementation requires contractors to be familiar with pipe cracking techniques and requires thorough planning and preparation.
Additionally, expertise in CCTV surveillance of pipes for spot repairs, HDPE welding techniques and pipeline pressure testing skills are required.
Badroodien added that in January, the city successfully replaced 2,358 m of water pipes and 4,539 m of sewer pipes in about 20 projects.
“We are serious about maintaining Cape Town’s water and wastewater infrastructure to ensure our residents continue to have access to a reliable, safe drinking water supply and to help reduce sewer overflows.”
These ongoing upgrades have been long-awaited as the Hout Bay community is no stranger to water outages or service interruptions, while the city's water teams worked around the clock in January to address ongoing water issues (“Hout Bay New Year's Water Resolutions,” People's PostJanuary 23).
And in November last year, days without water in the Disa 1 and 2 informal settlements in Imizamo Yethu led to outrage, protests and damage to public property, with tires burning at Gateway Circle on Wednesday evening, November 29, while city officials tried to stop it to find the cause of the problem (“water problems in Hout Bay”, People's PostDecember 5, 2023).
Previous water outages were due to aging infrastructure, recurring burst pipes, tree roots causing underground damage and, in some cases, vandalism contributing to the problem.
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