GQEBERHA – More than two months after flooding replenished Nelson Mandela Bay’s dams, the metro’s water distribution system continues to recover, but a critical pipeline repair aimed at improving water supply has been delayed after operational challenges prevented a planned shutdown from going ahead.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) confirmed on Friday, 10 July, that repairs to the damaged 500mm Motherwell-Chelsea bulk water pipeline could not proceed as scheduled.
The municipality said the damaged pipeline remains a major obstacle to restoring normal water distribution, despite significant improvements in reservoir levels and overall system stability since the widespread flooding and infrastructure failures experienced during May and June.
According to municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya, the metro’s water supply system has shown steady recovery over recent weeks, with many previously affected supply areas now receiving a more reliable water supply.
However, Soyaya said repairs to the damaged pipeline have been complicated by extensive vandalism and theft of critical water infrastructure.
“The damaged section would normally be isolated independently, allowing water supply to continue to most areas while repairs are undertaken,” Soyaya said.
Unfortunately, extensive vandalism and theft of critical water infrastructure have severely compromised this capability.
He explained that several key isolating valves used to shut down individual sections of the pipeline had been damaged or destroyed, making it impossible to isolate only the affected section.
As a result, multiple interconnected pipeline sections now have to be shut down simultaneously before repairs can be completed, increasing the area affected by planned maintenance.
The municipality said reservoir levels supplying the transfer system have recovered sufficiently to support increased pumping, but the damaged 500mm pipeline continues to act as a bottleneck within the network, contributing to localised water interruptions.
Soyaya said repairing the pipeline remains essential to restoring reliable water distribution to affected communities.
The municipality said it is working to resolve the operational challenges that prevented Friday’s planned shutdown and will announce a revised repair schedule once arrangements have been finalised.
Residents have again been urged to help protect critical municipal infrastructure, with the municipality warning that vandalism and theft are directly affecting its ability to provide reliable water services.
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