Durban residents face longer water shutdown as work hits delays

Residents and businesses in parts of Durban will have to wait longer for their water supply after work on the Southern Aqueduct pipeline took longer than expected.

The eThekwini Municipality has extended the planned water supply interruption after technical challenges and required on-site modifications delayed completion.

The water shutdown was originally scheduled to end at 06:00 on Thursday, 1 October, but the contractor remains on site and is working to complete the outstanding work.

Residents in Durban without water supply

The municipality said the new estimated completion time is later on Thursday, 1 October.

However, water is not expected to return immediately once the work itself is finished.

After the welding work, the affected section of the pipeline must be completely dry before workers can sandblast and paint inside the pipe.

Once the work is complete, the pipeline will also need to be charged with water before supplies can reach the affected reservoirs.

This means the network will have to be progressively filled before water supply can be restored to all affected areas.

Residents should therefore expect that it could take additional time for water to return and for the system to fully stabilise, the municipality said.

The interruption was required to allow the contractor to carry out work linked to the Southern Aqueduct upgrade project.

The wider project is aimed at strengthening Durban’s bulk water network and improving the reliability of water supply to communities in the southern and central parts of the city.

The affected areas

The affected areas remain in parts of the Pinetown South, Central and South regions.

Pinetown South

The affected areas include Westville, Berea West, Jan Hofmeyer, Dawncliffe, Klaarwater, Phumphele, St Wendolins, Savannah Park, Nsizwakazi, Regency Park, Latana, Hlanganisa, Gwala Road, Sarjoo Road, Intake, Progress Road, Mawelewele, Luganda, Nagina Township, Khoseleni, Sthundu Hills, Dambuza and parts of Bell Tower Road, Grasmere Road and Mpongo Road.

Major facilities in the affected supply areas include Westville Hospital, Pavilion Mall, Westway Office Park and Westwood Mall.

Central region

Affected areas include large parts of Queensburgh, Farningham Ridge, Hillary, Malvern, Mount Vernon, Northdene, Shallcross, Moseley Park, Nirvana Hills, Coedmore, Umbilo, Umhlathuzana, Chatsworth, Arena Park, Crossmoor, Enhlanzeni, Montford, Moorton, Risecliff, Silverglen, Welbedagt, Westcliff and Woodhurst.

Other affected areas include Buffels Bosch, Burlington Heights, Savannah Park, Harinager, Bayview, Bulbul, Croftdene, Havenside, Kharwastan, Woodlands and Yellowwood Park.

South region

The water shutdown also affects large parts of Umlazi, including sections A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, Z, AA, BB and CC.

The affected southern areas also include Ensimbini, Ntabankulu, Draaihoek, Mahlabathini, Mangamazini, Mkhazini, Folweni, Golokodo, Dodoza and Isiphingo Esincane.

The municipality says the contractor is fast-tracking the remaining work in an effort to restore supply to affected communities as soon as possible.