Metro steps in to stem water losses in M’well
Conservation body raises concern over flow into canal
THE metro has deployed water-loss task teams to identify and repair any major leaks in Motherwell following new concerns raised about the perennial flow from stormwater drains in the area.
The teams had been deployed after an inspection was undertaken in response to The Herald’s questions and a slight increase in the normal flow into the Motherwell canal was identified, municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said yesterday .
The questions were prompted by concerns raised by Zwartkops Conservancy spokeswoman Jenny Rump, who said the conservancy was worried that large volumes of clean municipal water were being wasted despite the drought and the accompanying tough water tariffs.
“At one point, officials on site told us there was chlorine in the water so it must include at least some municipal water, which means leaks higher up the system, possibly hundreds of them,” she said.
The canal starts at the Ikamvelihle police station on the northeast side of Motherwell on the corner of WM Maku and Kalusha streets and curves around and down the east side of the township parallel to Dibanisa Road, before spilling into the Swartkops estuary.
A Herald team visited the stormwater drain near the Motherwell Sasol garage last week before the rains and saw water gushing out.
There were at least three other drain outlets higher up the canal and water ran continually and heavily out of all of them, Rump said.
“[Since] about six years ago we have raised concerns a number of times, but it’s never been fixed and the flow has never stopped.”
In a comprehensive response yesterday, Mniki said the water was from a combination of overflowing sewers, faulty drainage systems, illegal discharges, municipal water leaks and burst pipes, internal water leaks on properties and natural underground water.
“By the time the water reaches the canal, it often appears clean.
“Samples have been taken in an attempt to determine the source but the results have been mostly inconclusive.”
Numerous extensive investigations by various municipal departments and contractors had been undertaken, including physical inspections and the use of leak-detection equipment and cameras, he said.
“In some cases water leaks have been located and repaired, but the flow in the canal has never stopped.
“The canal was again inspected following this query and a slight increase in the normal flow was noted. Our water-loss teams have been deployed in an attempt to locate and repair any major leaks.”
Mniki said Motherwell’s water management network included many kilometres of pipe for which proper records were not always available.
Investigations were also hampered by missing and buried manhole covers and catch pits filled with rubble and debris.
“The water division is also installing zone meters at various points within the reticulation system to compare the volume of water entering an area with the volume used by consumers.
“The difference will indicate the presence of losses and help to determine the priority of further investigations.”
Asked earlier about the concerns raised by the conservancy, the regional director of water regulation in the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation, Andrew Lucas, said his team would investigate.
“We encourage the public to bring issues like this to our attention,” he said.