- In February, the City embarked on the second phase of the water pipe-replacement project in Hout Bay, where 1 449 m of water pipes are to be replaced in Victorskloof, Surcingle, Monterey, Almond and surrounding roads.
- The first project, to replace 1 900 m, started in October last year.
- The first phase of the project is reportedly ahead of its anticipated completion date this month.
Using advanced trenchless pipe-cracking technology to replace aged fibre-cement pipes, the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is on its way to replacing just over 3 300 m of water pipes in Hout Bay.
The City is currently replacing water pipes along Baviaanskloof Road, Campbell Street and Scottsville Circle.
In February, the City embarked on the second phase of the water pipe-replacement project in Hout Bay, where 1 449 m of water pipes are to be replaced in Victorskloof, Surcingle, Monterey, Almond and surrounding roads. This work is anticipated to be completed in June this year.
The first project, to replace 1 900 m, started in October last year. Public reports play a crucial role in assessing the need for pipe replacement.
In this instance, the age of the pipes and frequent bursts prompted the decision to replace them.
Mayco member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien, along with Ward 74 councillor Roberto Quintas, visited the project to assess the progress.
The first phase of the project is reportedly ahead of its anticipated completion date this month.
“As part of the Mayor’s Priority Programme, the Water and Sanitation Directorate has augmented its Water and Sewer Pipe Replacement Programme,” he said.
“For this, R836,6 million was allocated towards pipe replacements and infrastructure maintenance for the 2023-’24 financial year.
“I am pleased with the steady progress of this programme.”
In many ongoing pipe replacement projects, the municipality opts for trenchless pipe-cracking technology over the conventional open trench method.
This innovative approach involves inserting a bursting head, which is hydraulically pulled through the existing fibre cement pipe, breaking it apart.
Simultaneously, a new High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe is pulled behind the bursting head, effectively replacing the old pipe.
This method has proven cost-effective, causing minimal disruptions and enabling faster turnaround times.
Successful implementation requires contractors to be well-versed in pipe-cracking techniques, necessitating thorough planning and preparation.
Additionally, expertise in CCTV monitoring of pipes for point 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 approximately 20 projects.
“We are serious about maintaining Cape Town’s water and sewer infrastructure to ensure our residents continue to have access to a reliable, safe drinking water supply and to help reduce overflows from sewer pipes.”
These ongoing upgrades were long-awaited as the Hout Bay community is no stranger to water outages or interruption of services, while the City’s water teams worked around the clock in January to repair ongoing water woes (“Hout Bay’s New Year water resolutions”, People’s Post, 23 January).
And in November last year, days without water in Disa 1 & 2 informal settlements in Imizamo Yethu led to outrage, protest action and damage to public property, with tyres burnt at the Gateway Circle on Wednesday evening 29 November, while City officials attempted to find the source of the problem (“Water woes in Hout Bay”, People’s Post, 5 December 2023).
Previous water outages were related to aged infrastructure, recurring pipe bursts, tree roots wreaking underground havoc and, in some cases, acts of vandalism also contributed to the problem.
