Tempers are high in Welcome Glen as residents continue to search for answers regarding the lack of water in the area.
According to residents, the crisis has been raging for eight years, however, things reached the tipping point last week with taps allegedly running dry for several days.
“We have been living in Welcome Glen for eight years and almost every two months there is no water or there is very bad water pressure. Since last week Friday we have had no water. In the morning there would be water and then later in the day no water, on and off,” said a livid Marina van Rensburg.
She says they have tried in vain to have the matter resolved and this is now affecting them negatively.
“This is really ridiculous, we have reported it to Felicity Purchase, to our Councillor Simon Liell-Cock and the mayor. We have asked them to come up with a solution,” she claims.
Van Rensburg accuses the City of Cape Town of failing to fix their water infrastructure, instead pointing their finger at provincial government.
“Apparently, the water comes through Da Gama Park, which is part of the navy. Pipes are old and rusty and it’s a costly thing to repair,” says Van Rensburg.
She added that her family of four would in the beginning purchase five-litre bottles of water. However, the exercise became too costly.
“We have gotten wiser though, when there is water we fill these containers. But if you don’t have water for days, it is ridiculous. We are currently in a seven-day period of the water going on and off. In the meantime, the water bill is still there, we don’t get a rebate although there is no water.”
Van Rensburg says she has lodged a complaint at the City numerous times. “Every time it is the same answer, that the water comes through Da Gama which belongs to Public Works.
“I live in Welcome Glen; the City is the service provider and not the navy. But every time we talk to our ward councillors they give us the same answer. “They need to come up with a solution. What are they doing about it? The other answer I get from them is that it is not their problem, they say it is provincial.
“You are the leaders of the DA; you need to help us. Stop your politics and do something. At the moment the DA does not work for Welcome Glen,” she says. “How long does it take for the City of Cape Town to come up with a solution? Why don’t they give each resident a 10 000 litre water tank for example. It’s simple, then the problem is solved.
“There is a solution, but it looks like whoever is in charge is doing nothing.”
Fellow resident Janis Theron said the water situation in Welcome Glen is becoming very serious.
“The water pressure changes all the time. The department of public works and the DA need to work together to find a solution.”
Ward 61 councillor Simon Liell-Cock said the City is aware of the water problems in Welcome Glen.
“The issue lies with the pipeline that comes through Da Gama Park and the reticulation system inside Da Gama Park. Whenever it fails the supply to Welcome Glen is interrupted.”
He added that the water pipes are old which has lead to more frequent disruptions in the past two years.
“They are old and cannot take the pressure any longer. As with the failure of Eskom, the failure of PWD (Public Works) cannot be placed at the City’s door. Try as we might to assist, it remains the responsibility of PWD.”
Felicity Purchase, Speaker of the City of Cape Town council, said in a Facebook post that there had been 10 breaks in the Da Gama pipes.
“We are starting work next week on the work to provide Welcome Glen with a 24-hour reserve of water, until we can make arrangements for a bypass water line which was a condition originally of the development.
“We, Simon and I, were on-site last night and today and met with the water officials to try resolve.
“There have been 10 breaks in their pipes in DA Gama this past week. As well as numerous others over the past months.
“It takes time to plan but we are almost ready to implement.”
