Joburg Mayor Dada Morero reports improved water quality in Bez Valley and CBD

Joburg mayor Dada Morero says water quality in Bezuidenhout Valley and the Johannesburg CBD is improving after a sewer overflow contaminated a damaged water pipe last month.

Residents in the area have been advised not to drink tap water.

Briefing the media in Johannesburg, Morero explains what happened:

“The damaged steel pipe was located near a sewer manhole and required specialised welding, including the removal of a t-piece. While the team awaited the welding crew’s availability, a nearby sewer manhole became blocked and overflowed, spilling sewer into the trench and mixing with water from the damaged pipe.”

Morero says initial tests showed the water was not fit for consumption, but subsequent tests have shown a steady improvement

"As of the 4th of January, only two of seven sampling points were still below drinking water standards. Bulk dosing and additional flushing are continuing."

He says affected areas have now been narrowed down to parts of 6th through 10th Avenue near Albertina Sisulu.

COST OF REPAIRS

The city of Johannesburg needs three billion rand a year to fix ageing water pipes and expand reservoir capacity.

Mayor Dada Morero told journalists that while refurbishment of existing reservoirs is ongoing, new ones are also being added.

Morero was giving an update on the state of the city’s water quality following a cross-contamination incident that caused a sewer smell in tap water in parts of the city.

He assured residents that Johannesburg water is on top of the issue, adding that recent tests are showing an improvement in water quality, albeit still not at a level safe for consumption

Affected areas include the Bez Valley and the Johannesburg CBD.

Morero says efforts to replace old water pipes are being hampered by cash-flow constraints.

“Over and above the refurbishment, we’re also bringing new reservoirs, one of them being, unfortunately of course, with the delays in terms of cash flows, it was delayed. We are trying our level best to push the investment we think we need, about 3 billion on an annual basis.”

Written by: Jabulile Mbatha and Dimakatso Leshoro