Carrying bucketloads of water from tankers proves burdensome for Westbury's elderly

Residents at an old age home in Westbury said carrying large buckets of water from water tankers is nearly impossible.

Last week, Joburg Water deployed 21 water tankers to the area and some directly to old age homes to address the water cuts.

Westbury, Coronationville and other areas have had to contend with intermittent water supply for months now.

On Thursday, Joburg Water announced that it would build a new pipeline to increase water levels to taps.

The two-storey old age home in Westbury has a water tank in the yard, with a low-lying tap.

Resident Julie Fahmay, who ives on the second floor, said nobody comes to help them fill their buckets and take them back to their residence.

The building visited by EWN, also has a water leak on a staircase.

Fahmay said this poses as a safety risk.

“Another thing is we have sickly people here; there’s two ladies upstairs one walks with crutches if she slips on those stairs on that water running down there, who is going to help her up, who is going to reimburse her. We are sick and tired of this life.”

Joburg Water has changed its seven-day water restoration deadline to three weeks.

ALSO READ:

• Following promise of full restoration of supply, Joburg Water says main systems heavily constrained
• Nearly a week after Morero promised full restoration of supply, Westbury residents still without water

• Westbury residents dismiss Joburg mayor's claims that interventions to restore water is on track

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The video above was produced by EWN's Jacques Nelles.