Water woes on mend

THE letter “Water woes stressful” (Cape Times, March 10) refers.

The City of Cape Town wishes to apologise for the low water pressure that residents of Grassy Park and Lotus River are currently experiencing. The low pressure was caused by failure of one of the three pressure management systems supplying the area.

Upon receipt of queries from residents, the Water and Sanitation Department conducted tests on the water supply line. The finding was that the inlet pipeline to a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) was faulty. The water supply was subsequently redirected through the other pressure management systems in order to secure access for homes in the area.

The fittings that malfunctioned on the PRV are in the process of being replaced, but pressure at various key points in the system will remain low until repairs are completed. Water supply to the affected areas will normalise thereafter.

PRVs are a means of controlling water pressure within the pipeline and, thereby, extending the life of our infrastructure. Initiatives such as this form part of the city’s Water Demand Management Plan, and significantly reduce the occurrence of pipe bursts and the subsequent water losses.

The city would like to apologise for the inconvenience experienced and assures that everything possible is being done to expedite repairs. In the interim, we call on residents to curb non-essential use of water as this can contribute to the low pressure. Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, City of Cape Town