An estimated 20 litres of water a minute has been going to waste non-stop for more than a year owing to a broken standpipe in Duncan Village.
The municipal drinking water has been spouting onto Sofute Street and a rough calculation shows that 10400 kilolitres a year could have flowed down the drain.
That’s enough to supply 144 indigent households with water accord to the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) quota of six kilolitres of free water a month per indigent household.
Duncan Village councillor Mongezi Ngcaba said the municipal tap was installed years ago to serve nearby homes, but homeowners had since fitted their own taps so a standalone was no longer needed.
The tap has long-ago vanished leaving just the pipe sending out a metre-long horizontal jet of water which sluices through Sofute and Florence streets.
“The pipe needs to be removed because it is just useless. It is a waste of water because every household around it has taps. There is no informal settlement nearby,” said Ngcaba.
The water has become a hazard for motorists as it has undermined the tar and caused potholes.
Resident Yolisa Gunuza said the front of her house was experiencing severe damp: “Children are constantly ill with colds because the area they live in is constantly damp or wet.”
Thozama Mbambe, who lives next to the broken tap, blames the “dam” outside her front door for worsening asthma.
“I am always cold because of this waterfall that is making ponds in front of my yard. The water has caused mosquitos to infest our community,” said Mbambe.
Motorist Sinazo Dayimani said: “Our cars are always dirty and the road is riddled with potholes which are filled with water.”
BCM’s water and sanitation department was informed six months ago, said Ngcaba.
No reply was received to questions to BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese by yesterday. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
Millions of litres down the drain
The municipal drinking water has been spouting onto Sofute Street and a rough calculation shows that 10400 kilolitres a year could have flowed down the drain.
That’s enough to supply 144 indigent households with water accord to the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) quota of six kilolitres of free water a month per indigent household.
Duncan Village councillor Mongezi Ngcaba said the municipal tap was installed years ago to serve nearby homes, but homeowners had since fitted their own taps so a standalone was no longer needed.
The tap has long-ago vanished leaving just the pipe sending out a metre-long horizontal jet of water which sluices through Sofute and Florence streets.
“The pipe needs to be removed because it is just useless. It is a waste of water because every household around it has taps. There is no informal settlement nearby,” said Ngcaba.
The water has become a hazard for motorists as it has undermined the tar and caused potholes.
Resident Yolisa Gunuza said the front of her house was experiencing severe damp: “Children are constantly ill with colds because the area they live in is constantly damp or wet.”
Thozama Mbambe, who lives next to the broken tap, blames the “dam” outside her front door for worsening asthma.
“I am always cold because of this waterfall that is making ponds in front of my yard. The water has caused mosquitos to infest our community,” said Mbambe.
Motorist Sinazo Dayimani said: “Our cars are always dirty and the road is riddled with potholes which are filled with water.”
BCM’s water and sanitation department was informed six months ago, said Ngcaba.
No reply was received to questions to BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese by yesterday. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
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