Poor materials lead to increased pipe bursts

By Odette Ismail
12 June 2007

The City of Cape Town says the current winter rains are increasing the possibility of pipe bursts in the city’s mains, particularly in the older areas.

This is due to the materials (cast iron, fibre cement and ferrous cement) used for the manufacture of water pipes in use in the older areas.

Sipho Mosai, the City’s director of Water Services says pipes made from these materials are rigid and inflexible and the slightest movement in the ground after rain causes pipes to burst.

"Due to the flexible nature of the new PVC type material now being used in pipe construction, fewer pipe bursts are being experienced. All mains replacements are now done with new PVC pipe material," says Mosai.

The Water Services are appealing to people to be patient during the winter season.

"We commit ourselves to repair burst water mains as speedily as possible," says Mosai.

All reports of burst pipes ad other water-related problems, can be directed to the Water Call Centre on 0860 103 054 (24 hours).